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The possible indictment of former President Trump, the Jan. 6 attack on the capital, the war in Ukraine and the national debt were among the topics addressed by former Vice President Mike Pence during his visit to Washington and Lee University last week.
Pence spoke last Tuesday to a packed University Chapel during the spring kickoff event for the 28th W&L mock convention, which will try to predict the Republican presidential candidate next February.
Pence answered media questions before going into University Chapel, where he gave prepared remarks, then sat down for an interview with Fox News chief political anchor and host Brett Baier.
Several questions focused on the claim by former President Trump that he was about to be indicted by a Manhattan grand jury concerning the payment of “hush money” to porn star Stormy Daniels. Trump had called for his supporters to protest the action.
Though he expressed frustration, Pence urged calm.
“I understand the frustration. I as I said this past weekend, if [Trump] is indeed indicted by the DA (district attorney) that appears to me to be a politically motivated prosecution,” he said. “But I think letting our voices be heard in other ways and not engaging in protest I think is most prudent.”
If the indictment happens, his concern is that it will be divisive, in a time where a greater level of political cohesion is necessary.
“My greatest concern is that if this were to come about tomorrow, is that it will only further divide the body politic in America in ways that is going to make it far more difficult for us to solve these problems.”
One of the problems referenced is the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, where Pence emphasized the need for continued American support.
“And let me be very clear: The United States of America must continue to give the courageous fighters in Ukraine the support they need to repel the Russian invasion and secure their sovereignty,” he said.
In his commitment to continued involvement, Pence separates himself from some members of his party. He explicitly contradicted Florida governor and possible presidential candidate Ron DeSantis’ recent framing of the conflict as a “territorial dispute.”
“Let me be very clear on this. The war in Ukraine is not a territorial dispute. It is a Russian invasion.”
Responding to Baier, he further emphasized the potential ramifications, drawing comparisons to the Cold War.
“For the third time in the 21st century, Vladimir Putin is attempting to redraw international lines by force,” he said. “And I think it’s clear, that Vladimir Putin is attempting to reassert the old Soviet sphere of influence in Eastern Europe”.
For these reasons, he believes, U.S. support is critical.
“Ukraine is not a NATO ally. We are under no obligation to send our own into harm’s way, but the Baltics, they’re a NATO ally. It is not inconceivable that if Putin was to prevail in Ukraine, that he would move against a country that we have a treaty with, and we’d keep our treaty,” said Pence.
“I heartily embrace this notion that America is not only the leader of the free world, but is the arsenal of democracy. Ukraine is not our war, but freedom is our fight.”
Life Since 2020
In speaking to W&L students, Pence reflected on the changes in his own life in the years since 2020 with a level of humor.
“Well, my life has changed a lot since the last time we were together. I moved home to Indiana, bought five acres and a pond, got a riding mower,” he said. “One of the good things about no longer being vice president is that you get to drive your own car. One of the bad parts is you get to pay for your own gas.”
When asked whether he plans on entering the 2024 presidential race, Pence was evasive, saying a final decision has yet to be made.
“My wife and I are continuing to pray and reflect and speak to friends around the country about whether we might enter that national race,” he said.
‘Only The Beginning Of The Debt Crisis’
Whether as a potential future candidate or a private citizen, national issues still weigh heavily on Pence’s mind, not least the national debt, which he referred to as a crisis.
“As I stand before this rising generation, you all deserve to know, today we have a national debt the size of our nation’s economy, nearly 32 trillion dollars,” he said.
“We haven’t had a national debt the size of our nation’s economy since the end of World War II. Today our national debt is a hundred times larger, than it was in 1965.”
The burden of this debt, he argued, will fall on the younger generation, the college students gathered for the talk, members of his own family.
“By the time, children like my two granddaughters, born in the last month, reach their 30th birthday, the greatest nation on earth could face 165 trillion dollars in national debt, and presumably have a national debt five times the size of this economy.”
“It will be your generation that’s robbed of your dreams, and not mine,” he said.
Though not putting forward any concrete policies of his own, Pence said that attitudes and policies toward the national debt must change, and change soon.
“We often hear that Medicare is just five years away from insolvency, that Social Security is just 10 years away, but that’s just the tip of the iceberg,” he said.
“This generation needs to know that that’s only the beginning of the debt crisis that your generation will face if this generation doesn’t face it today. That iceberg could sink American prosperity.”
‘Our Institutions Held’
Another topic of concern was January 6th, and the potential that Pence’s actions then will be challenged if he does choose to enter the presidential race.
Pence was clear in emphasizing the impact of the attack on the capitol, which had personal impact on him.
“I would never minimize what took place on January 6th,” he said.
“Let me say this is a personal matter for me, and for members of my team who were with me that day, and to no less extent my wife Karen and my daughter, who came to the capitol with me that day to watch me convene the joint session of congress.”
In spite of this, Pence understood the final outcome, certification of the electoral votes, as a successful one, and a victory for American institutions.
“But I’ll always believe because of the courage of those police officers and federal officials, we turned a day of tragedy into a triumph of freedom. Our institutions held.
“Once states certified their results and sent electoral votes to our nation’s capital, my judgment is that our duty was clear,” said Pence. “We stayed our post, we finished our work. I trust myself to the judgment of the American people.”
A Challenge
In closing his remarks, he issued a challenge to the assembled students — faced with a new set of difficulties, America needs a new generation of leaders to step forward.
“As we look around the globe, America needs this generation to become the leaders that our nation will require when confronted with challenges of the 21st century.
“When the time of testing comes for you, and it will, as it does for us all, you will be in that moment the man or woman you’ve been preparing to be,” he said.
“So I want to challenge you during this time in your life to develop the qualities of the inner man and the inner woman that will be required for you to lead your families, your communities, your states, and this nation.”
Despite the challenges, Pence expressed his faith in the future of America and the next generation of American leadership.
“I truly believe that the hope for America lies in the hearts of the American people,” he said.
“And I’m absolutely convinced that, traveling all across this country as a private citizen these last few years, that a new generation of leadership is rising all across America.”
