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Former US vice president Mike Pence harshly criticised former president Donald Trump for his role in the 6 January riot at the US Capitol, widening the rift between the two men as they prepare to battle over the Republican nomination in next year’s election.
“President Trump was wrong,” Pence said during remarks at the annual white-tie Gridiron Dinner attended by politicians and journalists.
“I had no right to overturn the election.
“And his reckless words endangered my family and everyone at the Capitol that day, and I know history will hold Donald Trump accountable.”
Pence’s remarks were the sharpest condemnation yet from the once-loyal lieutenant who has often shied away from confronting his former boss.
Trump has already declared his candidacy.
Pence has not, but he has been laying the groundwork to run.
In the days leading up to 6 January 2021, Trump pressured Pence to overturn President Joe Biden’s election victory as he presided over the ceremonial certification of the results.
Pence refused, and when rioters stormed the Capitol, some chanted that they wanted to “hang Mike Pence”.
The House committee that investigated the attack said in its final report that “the President of the United States had riled up a mob that hunted his own vice president”.
With his remarks, Pence solidified his place in a broader debate within the Republican Party over how to view the attack.
House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, for example, recently provided Tucker Carlson with an archive of security camera footage from January 6, which the Fox News host has used to downplay the day’s events and promote conspiracy theories.
“Make no mistake about it, what happened that day was a disgrace,” Pence said in his Gridiron Dinner remarks.
“And it mocks decency to portray it any other way.”
Trump, meanwhile, has continued to spread lies about his election loss.
He has even spoken in support of the rioters and said he would consider pardoning them if he was re-elected.
Speeches at the Gridiron Dinner are usually humorous affairs, where politicians poke fun at each other, and Pence did plenty of that as well.
He joked that Trump’s ego was so fragile, he wanted his vice president to sing Wind Beneath My Wings, one of the lines is “did you ever know that you’re my hero?”, during their weekly lunches.
He took another shot at Trump over classified documents.
“I read that some of those classified documents they found at Mar-a-Lago were actually stuck in the president’s Bible,” Pence said.
“Which proves he had absolutely no idea they were there.”
Even before the dinner was over, Pence was facing criticism for his jokes about Transport Secretary Pete Buttigieg, the first openly gay Cabinet member in US history.
Pence mentioned that, despite travel problems that were plaguing Americans, Buttigieg took “maternity leave” after he and his husband adopted newborn twins.
“Pete is the only person in human history to have a child and everyone else gets post-partum depression,” Pence said.
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The normal Joe and Bridget is constantly told that they can’t have house parties, they can’t congregate in groups, they must keep social distance, they are a threat to others by not following guidelines and are open to fines if they don’t follow NPHET advice. Then we have this, some country alright.
@Jack Cass: The normal Joe and Bridget are breaking those rules as well.
Just focus on doing the right thing yourself and less worrying about others.
@Fozz: I thought we are all in this together?
@Brian Madden: Yes but being ‘all in this together’ and not curtain twitching are not mutually exclusive.
@Fozz: in fairness the normal Joe and Bridget breaking rules aren’t on a major platform preaching to everyone, day in and day out, about breaking the social distancing and mask guidelines. It’s not about ‘worry less about others and focus on yourself’ that’s the issue. It’s the frustration of one rule for us and seems to be another for a certain cohort of people. Is OK for people to be frustrated. We don’t need to be told every time we see an enraging story like this to `worry about yourself’. The journal never fails to bring out the condescending folk.
Great reason to avoid paying tv license. I’m not funding those pompous overpaid presenters, if we are lucky this will be Tubridy’s final toy show!
Needs to resign, position untenable after that.
And not one of them mean it.
Sorry! Such a meaningless word when it rolls off the tongue.
@Dave Barrett: Sorry they were so stúpid as to be caught out, thats only how sorry they are.
What is it about people like this in the upper echelons of Irish society. how are they this brazen? They are the ones who covered GolfGate. . . . And they do this. How thick and arrogant do the people at that party have to be to accept an invitation to this. Good lord. There’s not a HOPE we’re getting this under control before a vaccine. Arrogant tools.
@JedBartlett: If you get on the Late Late Show or Dancing With The Stars you fall into this category.
It will interesting when they come before the Dail committee to see what questions they will be asked.
Rory Coveney and Miriam O’Callaghan’s positions in RTE are untenable thanks to their links with government.
They are no better than Brian Hayes.
The damage is done
@Ewan O’Doherty: So all should be forgotten after their faux apologies? Remember how outraged everyone was with the pub, Berlin D2. That bar apologised, they should be grand now and the Garda not apposing their licence renewal?
Apologise because they got caught.
They don’t give a toss.
aw give it a rest. they behaved no different than any other workplace. The staff in the school i work in behave in the same manner once the kids are off site
@Bala mc blaha: If other people did it an were caught a simple “Sorry” would not carry any weight with RTE if they were investigating it. RTE have been lecturing the nation on obeying the rules, running condescending adverts on covid since March. They should now pay a heavy price for their rule breaking.
@Bala mc blaha: they are not any other work place. Even consider the high profile people there who had had the virus, they should be more careful than anyone.
@Bala mc blaha: They are not in the public eye big difference when you work in RTÉ
@Bala mc blaha: Thanks for you honesty and letting us all know some of the reasons why schools are not safe.
. In our offices, 2 meters distancing at all times, one way system in and out of building and stairs, only 1 allowed in showers or toilets at a time, segregated desks and no one seated inside 2 meters, staggered canteen times and no one seated inside 2 meters, all stop points have 2 meters signage on floors and all in place and in effect since March. No meetings unless can be held in rooms where 2 meters distancing can be maintained.
@Bala mc blaha: Not in my workplace. Whilst self employed I rent a studio in the local arts center. No outside visitors, one way system, distsncing and entry/exit times strictly enforced. Monthly coffee mornings with other tenants & staff happen over Zoom when they could easily be distanced in the large theatre space.
Not in my wife’s workplace either (a major hospital). Mask on before you walk in and don’t take it off until you’re in your car 13/14 hours later (it’s obviously changed in between multiple times). Distancing strictly enforced outside of patient care settings incl canteen where what can only be described as exam invigilators make sure your mask is not off longer than it should be.
Several teachers have retired from my daughter’s school and it’s very clear from photos/video they adhered to all guidelines.
From my anecdotal experiences it’s not “all workplaces” and RTE are just taking the proverbial.
Why the extra ramifications for the pub, Berlin D2 with their licence being blocked, if a simple, sorry will do. Berlin D2 also apologised, so they should be brand now?
@Alan Wright: *grand
I don’t think anyone really wants an apology from RTE, politicians, the judiciary or anyone else.
All people really want is for the same rules that apply to RTE celebrities for gatherings apply to everyone else.
For the rules that apply to the Gardai and the IRA for funerals, apply across the board.
For the travelling restrictions that apply to migrant workers apply to everyone.
For the rules that allow multi-nationals carry on in business, be also applied to individual Irish entrepreneurs, be they barbers, boutiques, hairdressers, restaurateurs or publicans.
For the rules that allow BLM and Polish abortion protests be permitted without hindrance, apply to all Irish citizens.
You know, the stuff that used to be in the Constitution.
Ah sure it’s grand then, same as Mr. Wolfe.. Be grand sure
How many times have things like this happened in this country, even before March? Same story, high profile wrongdoing happens, scandal errupts, forgotten in 2-3 weeks…
Remember when it was bankers that thought they could just do as they please…
Of course you would not know about the real world in the private sector. In our offices, 2 meters distancing at all times, one way system in and out of building and stairs, only 1 allowed in showers or toilets at a time, segregated desks and no one seated inside 2 meters, staggered canteen times and no one seated inside 2 meters, all stop points have 2 meters signage on floors and all in place and in effect since March. No meetings unless can be held in rooms where 2 meters distancing can be maintained.
We’ve all had losses and needed to restrict ourselves from loved ones. This event had to be planned, someone dosent just up and retire but a copy and paste “im sorry ” makes everything ok. ?? I don’t think so…just screams of being a hypocrite.
Run this by me again, someone or persons unknown in RTE news dept organized a retirement party in the midst of strict contact restrictions , which was attended by household names who have spent months reporting on a pandemic including the daily naming & shaming of members of the public for minor infringements of the regulations, then they all stood around afterwards & posed for group pictures sometimes with arms around one another with masks in their hands?
That’s great but when are they all getting sacked
A lot of pent up hatred and seething dislike for RTE being displayed in the comments above.
RTE wouldn’t be my No 1 institution either but methinks a lot of the above is just using the recent incidents as a cover to vent.
Please stop apologising!
It was an error of judgement…
Yes we would all love an event night out but so be it….
Everyone wants to take the head off people as soon as a mistake is made!. We are getting closer to a vaccine and soon we can all go back to living.
I don’t like to c people being humiliated. If there is any person out there who has never made a mistake in life.. feel free to keep throwing them stones …
Life is not perfect nor should it be!
Despite being the Covid propaganda arm of the State their behaviour demonstrates how much they belive in the hogwash they broadcast every evening to the great unwashed.
Public Service Broadcaster.. Any resignations?… Any questions even?
That took a while
The same RTÉ news anchors went through for a short cut anyone in government who was on when topic of golfgate dinner was on the agenda calling for dismissals and now are very quiet when the proverbial chicken comes home to roost. Glasshouses and people throwing stone And all that
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