Former Vice President Mike Pence said in a new interview with ABC News that he’s not interested in trading insults with former President Donald Trump, who has been critical of Pence online and on the campaign trail — especially in the wake of Trump’s latest indictment.
At a sit-in in Ankeny, Iowa, ABC News Live Prime anchor Lynsey Davis pointed to a recent social media post from Trump that accused Pence of going to the “dark side.”
“How do you respond to that?” Davis asked in a clip from the interview, which will air Monday night.
“Well, I don’t,” Pence replied, shaking his head and laughing. “Look, I know the former president quite well. I think every day more and more Americans are getting to know us, recognizing how committed we are to the conservative agenda. And I’m very pleased with the fact–and you saw him at the Iowa State Fair this week–how many people come up to us on a regular basis and thank us On the position we took on that fateful day [on Jan. 6]. “
“So I’m going to pass my record on to the American people, and the president can continue to do what he’s been doing: He can continue to stand up and settle his charges,” Pence told Davis. “But as for me, I will not engage in negative personal attacks.”
Watch more of Mike Pence’s sit-down interview with Lynsey Davis Monday at 7 p.m. ET on ABC News Live Prime.
“I will draw the contrast, I will make the choice and focus on how to make this country more prosperous and safer after the disastrous policies of President Joe Biden and the White House,” Pence said.
Since he and Trump left office, Pence — while touting many of his accomplishments with Trump — has become increasingly vocal about disapproving of Trump’s push to get him to reject their electoral defeat as he presides over Congress in a ceremonial role on Jan. 6, 2021.
US Republican presidential candidate and former Vice President Mike Pence speaks with ABC News during an interview with Linsey Davis, August 12, 2023.
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The episode is a key part of Trump’s third criminal indictment, issued from Washington, which charges him with conspiracy to defraud the United States, conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding, obstruction and attempted obstruction of an official proceeding and conspiracy to defraud rights.
Pence’s role as vice president is mentioned more than 100 times in the indictment.
Trump has pleaded not guilty and has alleged the cases are politically motivated.
Pence on the campaign trail – while challenging the former president for the 2024 Republican nomination – described how he abided by the Constitution on Jan. 6 despite Trump’s demands otherwise.
Last week, Trump accused Pence on Truth Social of having “went to the dark side,” mocking him as a “fake.” Trump also confirmed that he did not ask Pence to put me above the Constitution.
Pence’s choice not to engage follows his familiar refrain on the trunk: the promise to “restore a threshold of civility in public life.”
Pence has not ruled out voting for Trump in 2024, but said, “I don’t think I’m going to have to.”
This article originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
