GOP “Will Cease to Exist” – Stop Following Trump’s Populist Agenda, Warns Mike Pence

Jo ShawNov 1, 2023

Minute Read

Mike Pence delivered a significant speech titled “Populism vs. Conservatism: Republicans’ Time for Choosing” in New Hampshire. Pence proceeded to issue a stark warning to Republicans that the party was going “down the path of populism and decline” and that it was time to decide the party’s future.

GOP Will Cease to Exist

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As quoted on his campaign site, Pence states that “should the new populism of the right seize and guide our party, the GOP as we long have known it will cease to exist.”

Trump Promised to Govern as Conservative

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At the New Hampshire Institute of Politics, Pence said, “When Donald Trump ran for president in 2016, he promised to govern as a conservative and together we did.”

Trump Makes No Promises Today

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However, Pence attempted to raise the point that Trump’s current campaign now differs. “It’s important for Republicans to know that he and his imitators in this Republican primary make no such promise today,” Pence said.

Trump Echoes the Progressives

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“The truth is, Donald Trump and his imitators often sound like an echo of the progressives they seek to replace,” he further explained in his speech. Pence provided examples of Trump’s “populist” agenda: “For instance, they argue that we can only end our crisis at home by abandoning our allies abroad.”

Populist Republicans Are Ignoring the Debt Crisis

Pence also declared Republican populists insist that the government should “dictate how private businesses operate” and “ignore the coming debt crisis.”

The Party “Did Not Begin on a Golden Escalator”

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Mike Pence lashed out at MAGA supporters, stating, “The Republican Party did not begin on a golden escalator in 2015” and that the party’s relevancy would be “confined to the history books” if they continued to support populist views. “In a cruel twist… Republican in name only,” stated Pence.

Time for Republicans to Choose

“We have come to a Republican time for choosing,” urged Pence, saying that the Republican party could choose its traditional path or “go down the path of populism and decline.”

Pence Drops Out of Race

Pence made a somber speech at the weekend, announcing that he was suspending his campaign. He made his announcement in Las Vegas at the Republican Jewish coalition summit.

This Is Not My Time

“The Bible tells us that there’s a time for every purpose under heaven. Traveling across the country over the past six months, I came here to say it’s become clear to me, this is not my time. So after much prayer and deliberation, I have decided to suspend my campaign for president effective today,” Pence said on stage at the summit.

First Major Candidate to Drop Out

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Pence has become the first major candidate to drop out of the race. According to recent polls, Nikki Hayley and Gov. Ron DeSantis are now fighting for second place, while Trump still leads.

Elect Principled Republican Leaders

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“I’m leaving this campaign but let me promise you… I will never leave the fight for conservative values and I will never stop fighting to elect principled Republican leaders to every office in the land,” he continued.

It’s America’s Time

“The only thing that would have been harder than coming up short would have been if we’d never tried at all,” he said. “To the American people, I say this is not my time. But it’s still your time,” Pence concluded.

Trump Seeking Pence’s Endorsement

When Pence announced he was dropping out of the race, former President Trump quickly jumped in, suggesting his former vice president should endorse him.

They Are All Endorsing Me

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“People are leaving now and they’re all endorsing me,” Trump said in Las Vegas. “I don’t know about Mike Pence. He should endorse me. You know why? Because I had a great, successful presidency and he was the vice president,” Trump declared.

Pence Refused to Overturn 2020 Election

Pence’s and Trump’s relationship took a downturn when Pence declined to assist in overturning the 2020 election results. However, during Trump’s presidential term, Pence, as vice president, was a staunch supporter.

Pence Breaks From Trump

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What stood out most after the 2020 election was Pence solidifying his separation from Trump. “I believe that anyone who puts themselves over the Constitution should never be president,” Pence said, referring to Trump’s attempts to overturn the 2020 election. “And anyone who asks someone else to put them over the Constitution should never be president again.”

He Is an “Empty Suit”

An online user posted in response to Mike Pence dropping out of the race, calling him an “empty suit.” “MAGA Republicans hate him because he would not support Trump attempting to steal the election. Non – MAGA Republicans hate him because he supported Trump doing everything else. Everyone else hates him because he is an empty suit.”

Is Mike Pence Free to Testify?

Another suggested that it may free Pence to testify in Trump’s upcoming civil and criminal trials. “Does that mean Mike Pence is free to testify against his dear leader?” a user posted.