Pence's Faith: Accounting For Trump's Presidency

Mike Pence's faith has been a key component of his life as a politician, husband, and father. Pence, who has described himself as a Christian, a conservative, and a Republican, in that order, has been popular with conservative evangelical Christians.

Pence's faith has guided his political career, including his support for causes important to evangelicals, such as opposing abortion rights and federal spending on embryonic stem cell research, and pushing a constitutional amendment against same-sex marriage. As vice president, Pence addressed the annual March for Life in Washington, D.C., and cast a tie-breaking vote in the Senate to allow states to withhold funds from abortion providers.

However, Pence's faith has also been a source of controversy. His appearance at Notre Dame University, a Catholic school, ended in a student walkout, and his signing of Indiana's religious freedom law, which was seen as allowing businesses to discriminate against LGBTQ people, led to a boycott of the state.

Despite their differences, Pence was chosen as Donald Trump's running mate in the 2016 presidential election, which they went on to win. However, their relationship became tumultuous after Trump left office, mainly due to Pence's refusal to stop Congress from certifying Joe Biden's victory in the 2020 election. On January 6, 2021, Pence's life was in danger as Trump supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol, some chanting, Hang Mike Pence!

In the 2024 election, Pence did not endorse Trump, citing profound differences on issues such as confronting the national debt, abortion, and foreign policy. Pence's decision marked a break from his former image as one of Trump's most loyal defenders.

Mike Pence's refusal to stop Congress from certifying Joe Biden's victory in the 2020 election

On January 6, 2021, then-Vice President Mike Pence defied President Donald Trump by affirming Joe Biden's victory in the 2020 election. This came after Trump urged Pence to overturn the election results, claiming that he had the power to do so. However, Pence maintained that the Constitution did not grant him such authority. Despite facing threats from Trump supporters and criticism from Trump himself, Pence ultimately oversaw the certification of Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris as the winners of the election.

In the days leading up to the joint session of Congress on January 6, 2021, Trump pressured Pence to overturn the election results. Trump falsely asserted that Pence had the power to reject electoral votes from swing states that Biden had won, despite the largely ceremonial role of the vice president in the certification process. Pence, however, stood firm in his interpretation of the Constitution, stating that he did not have the unilateral authority to reject states' electoral votes.

On the day of the joint session, Trump held a rally where he urged his supporters to march to the Capitol and expressed his hope that Pence would "do the right thing." The crowd then proceeded to storm the Capitol, disrupting the certification process and resulting in a riot. Despite the chaos and danger, Pence refused to be evacuated from the Capitol building, opting to remain and fulfill his duty of certifying the election results.

Pence's refusal to comply with Trump's demands and his decision to certify Biden's victory marked a significant departure from his typically loyal stance towards Trump. This move likely damaged his prospects for a future presidential run, especially given Trump's continued influence within the Republican Party. Pence's actions during the 2020 election certification demonstrated his commitment to upholding the Constitution and carrying out his duties as vice president, even in the face of intense pressure and personal risk.

Pence's stance on abortion

Mike Pence is a vocal opponent of abortion and has been perhaps the most outspoken Republican candidate about the issue. He has called for a federal ban on abortion at six weeks, before many women know they are pregnant, and has advocated pulling a widely used abortion pill from the market. He has also implored his Republican rivals to back a 15-week federal ban as a minimum national standard.

Pence has gone further, saying abortion should be banned when a pregnancy is not viable. This would force women to carry pregnancies to term even when doctors have determined there is no chance a baby will survive outside the womb. He has said:

> I’m pro-life. I don’t apologize for it. I just have heard so many stories over the years of courageous women and families who were told that their unborn child would not go to term or would not survive. And then they had a healthy pregnancy and a healthy delivery.

Pence's faith and his refusal to dine alone with women who are not his wife

Mike Pence's refusal to dine alone with women who are not his wife is a reflection of his strong Christian faith and conservative values. Pence, a self-described "born-again, evangelical Catholic", has stated that he is "a Christian, a conservative, and a Republican, in that order". This stance has earned him popularity among conservative evangelical Christians and has been a defining feature of his political career.

Pence's decision to not dine alone with other women is based on his interpretation of his faith and his commitment to his marriage. He believes that it is important to respect his wife and avoid any situations that could be perceived as inappropriate. This rule, often referred to as the "Pence Rule", has been criticised by some as being outdated and detrimental to women's professional opportunities. Critics argue that this practice isolates and excludes women in the workplace, limiting their chances for advancement and networking.

However, others defend Pence's decision as a demonstration of his commitment to his marriage and his values. They argue that it is not necessary for a married person to dine alone with someone of the opposite sex outside of their family.

Pence's faith has guided his political career and influenced his stance on various social issues. He has been a strong advocate for conservative policies and has supported causes important to evangelicals, such as opposing abortion rights and same-sex marriage. As vice president, Pence addressed the annual March for Life in Washington, D.C., and has been vocal about his anti-abortion stance.

Pence's faith has also played a role in his foreign policy decisions. He has linked his support for Israel to his Christian faith, stating that his "Christian faith compels him to cherish the state of Israel". Additionally, his theological justification for supporting modern-day Israel has been met with criticism from Palestinian Christians, who question the compatibility of Pence's religion with their own understanding of Christianity.

In conclusion, Pence's refusal to dine alone with women who are not his wife is rooted in his deep Christian faith and conservative values. This decision has been both praised and criticised, highlighting the complex nature of religion in politics and its impact on societal norms and gender dynamics in the workplace.

Pence's relationship with Trump

Mike Pence and Donald Trump's relationship has been tumultuous since Trump left office, primarily relating to Pence's refusal to stop Congress from certifying Joe Biden's victory in the 2020 election. Tensions between the two men came to a head on January 6, 2021, when Trump supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol, and Trump refused to call off the rioters despite being told that Pence's life was in danger. Pence was forced to flee to a Senate loading dock as rioters chanted, "Hang Mike Pence!" outside.

Pence has since distanced himself from Trump, choosing not to endorse him in the 2024 election and instead launching his own bid for the Republican presidential nomination. Pence has also criticised Trump's conduct on the day of the Capitol attack, and has endorsed candidates in primary elections in opposition to those supported by Trump.

Pence and Trump's relationship began in 2016, when Pence, then governor of Indiana, became Trump's running mate in the 2016 presidential election. Pence was a loyal defender of Trump throughout his time as vice president, and was known as one of Trump's most loyal supporters. Pence described himself as "a Christian, a conservative, and a Republican, in that order", and his strong religious beliefs made him popular with conservative evangelical Christians.

However, Pence's relationship with Trump began to sour after Trump lost the 2020 election. Pence refused to go along with Trump's unconstitutional scheme to remain in power, and so Trump supporters turned on him, with some rioters even calling for him to be hanged. Pence later recounted the day in his memoir, writing:

> They had come to protest the result of the election and to prevent Congress from fulfilling its responsibility to open and count the Electoral College votes. And, as I later learned, many had come looking for me.

Pence and Trump's relationship seems to have ended in 2021, with Pence concluding that he and Trump should "go [their] own separate ways".

Pence's stance on refugees

As governor of Indiana, Mike Pence attempted to prevent Syrian refugees from being resettled in the state. In February 2016, a federal judge ruled that Pence's order to cut off federal funds for a local non-profit refugee resettlement agency was unconstitutional. Pence appealed this decision but was unsuccessful.

In December 2015, Pence stated that "calls to ban Muslims from entering the U.S. are offensive and unconstitutional". He also clashed with the Catholic Archdiocese of Indianapolis when he halted state support for efforts to relocate refugees, citing security concerns. The Archdiocese defied him by welcoming a Syrian family to the city anyway. Pence eventually said that, while he disagreed with the Archdiocese's actions, he would not block food stamps and other state aid for the family.

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