Former Vice President Mike Pence said he congratulated President-elect Trump on his return to the White House when the two exchanged brief remarks at former President Jimmy Carter's funeral on Thursday.
“He greeted me as he came down the aisle. I stood up and extended my hand. He shook my hand. I said, 'Congratulations, Mr. President,' and he said, ' Thank you, Mike,''' Pence said in a statement.Christian Today interview.
The funeral in Washington, D.C., was the first time Trump and Pence were in the same room since the end of their administration in January 2021.
As Mr. Pence and Mr. Trump shook hands and exchanged a few words, former second wife Karen Pence remained seated and did not interact with Mr. Trump or first lady Melania Pence.
The former vice president acknowledged that she refused to recognize Trump.
“You have to ask my wife about her attitude, but we've been married for 44 years and she loves her husband and he deeply respects his wife,” Pence said. he told Christianity Today.
Pence and his wife sat in the row behind Trump, along with the other vice presidents, and Trump sat next to former President Barack Obama.
“Sometimes I can't believe that God put me in one of these lines,” Pence said in an interview.
He also said he was “really blessed to hear so many stories” from people who see shaking Trump's hand as a sign of hope that they can overcome their problems.
“That's certainly my hope,” Pence said.
During the certification review on January 6, 2021, a rift in their relationship stemmed from President Trump's campaign to pressure Pence to oppose President Biden's 2020 victory.
Pence refused, claiming he did not have the authority to do so, even though the mob stormed the Capitol and threatened his life.
Pence briefly ran against Trump in the 2024 Republican primary, then resigned. He later said he did not support his former boss.
