Former Vice President Mike Pence established another point of difference between his political ideology and that of his top Republican presidential primary rival, former President Donald Trump, in a speech titled "Populism vs. Conservatism: Republicans' Time for Choosing," on Wednesday afternoon.
Pence argued in a major address at the New Hampshire Institute of Politics at St. Anselm College that populism is not compatible with classic conservatism, a stance at odds with Trump's populist messaging, which propelled him to the White House in 2016 and could help him clinch the Republican presidential nomination for a third time in 2024.
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After declaring President Joe Biden has "weakened America at home and abroad" Pence was expected to call for new leadership to govern the United States and the GOP. "Now more than ever we must forge that new leadership grounded in the conservative principles that have defined our party for more than 50 years," Pence said, according to prepared remarks. "Truth is, we have come to a Republican time for choosing."
The former vice president listed several challenges the nation faces under Biden, including the rising federal deficit, record inflation, and the chaotic American withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021, among other problems. Citing fatigue with the direction of the nation, Pence challenged his fellow Republicans to make a decision on the future of the party and nation.
"Today, I ask my fellow Republicans this: In the days to come, will we be the party of conservatism or will our party follow the siren song of populism unmoored to conservative principles?"
Pence went on to castigate Democrats for championing progressive socialism, the Green New Deal, Social Security and Medicare's burden on federal spending, and the investigation of conservative Supreme Court justices. "But today another strain of this ideology challenges conservatism not from the Democrat Party but from within and for control of the Republican Party," Pence was expected to say. "Only it takes the form of populism rather than progressivism."
The former vice president mentioned his one-time boss, Trump, directly by name once and by allusion a few times during the speech. "Republican populists would blatantly erode our Constitutional norms — a leading candidate last year called for the 'termination' of 'all rules, regulations, and articles, even those found in the Constitution' … while his imitators have a demonstrated willingness to brandish government power to silence critics and impose their will on opponents," Pence was expected to say.
Trump claimed he wanted to "terminate" the Constitution in a Truth Social post he wrote in December 2022. "A Massive Fraud of this type and magnitude allows for the termination of all rules, regulations, and articles, even those found in the Constitution,” Trump posted, claiming election interference in the 2020 election. But days later he reversed course."The Fake News is actually trying to convince the American People that I said I wanted to ‘terminate’ the Constitution. This is simply more DISINFORMATION & LIES," Trump said on Truth Social.
The former president's alleged efforts to overturn the election and the subsequent Jan. 6 Capitol riot are at the center of two indictments, the first from special counsel Jack Smith and the other from Georgia's Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis, he currently faces. Pence was referenced multiple times in Smith's indictment for resisting Trump's efforts to pressure him not to certify electoral votes after the election. Pence remains adamant he had a duty to certify the election per his oath to the Constitution.
"When Donald Trump ran for president in 2016 he promised to govern as a conservative. And together we did just that. But he and his imitators make no such promise today," Pence added, according to prepared remarks. "They forget that we succeeded because of a conservative agenda, not in spite of it.
"Donald Trump, along with his populist followers and imitators, some of whom are also seeking the Republican presidential nomination, often sound like an echo of the progressive they would replace in the White House," he continued. "They argue that we can only end our crises at home by abandoning our allies abroad."
The comments are a subtle reference to biotech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, whom several candidates, including Pence, have thrashed for appearing not to support the American defense of Taiwan against Chinese aggression, and for saying he would consider ending financial aid for Israel, a key American ally. Pence and Ramaswamy clashed during the first GOP primary debate of the 2024 cycle last month.
The former vice president also claimed that Ramaswamy wanted to "control" what the American public does with their finances. "As one of the former president’s populist proteges, Vivek Ramaswamy, wrote in his 2022 book, advocating a 59% death tax, we shouldn’t allow Americans to become wealthy 'just by having rich parents,'" Pence was expected to say.
Pence also took aim at Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL), Trump's closest competitor in the field, over his ongoing battle with Disney. "Like progressives, the Republican populists insist government should dictate how private businesses operate," Pence said, according to prepared remarks. "The Governor of Florida even used the power of the state to punish corporations for taking a political stand he disagreed with."
DeSantis's more than yearlong feud with Disney stemmed from the company's criticism of the Parental Rights in Education Act, which prohibited instructions on sexual orientation and gender identity in kindergarten through third-grade classes. Like Pence, several Republicans have criticized DeSantis's feud with the corporation for going against conservative principles.
Pence also sought to align himself with former President Ronald Reagan, who remains popular among Republicans. "I came to the Republican Party because of Ronald Reagan. I witnessed how his liberty-based economic policies ended inflation, brought prosperity, and the way his policy of peace through strength broke the Soviet Union," Pence said, according to prepared remarks. "Other Republican candidates and the populists in our party maintain that Reagan is no longer relevant."
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The former vice president also cited Biblical scripture, particularly the Book of Jeremiah, to persuade his party members at a crossroads to embrace his vision. "I have faith that Republican voters will again choose the good way, the way of limited government and traditional values," Pence was expected to say. "We will remain the conservative party."
The former vice president currently polls at 4.9%, according to a RealClearPolitics poll average. In comparison, Trump garners 53.4% support, DeSantis is at 14.8%, and Ramaswamy is at 7%.