Former Vice President Mike Pence shared details of his first encounter with former President Donald Trump since leaving office in 2021. The meeting took place at the state funeral of former President Jimmy Carter at the National Cathedral in Washington, DC.
Pence, 65, recounted the brief exchange between himself and Trump, 78, as they crossed paths at the funeral. “He greeted me when he came down the aisle. I stood up, extended my hand. He shook my hand. I said, ‘Congratulations, Mr. President,’ and he said, ‘Thanks, Mike,'” Pence revealed in an interview with Christianity Today during a podcast.
Despite the strained relations between the two since the 2020 election, Pence expressed gratitude for the opportunity to speak with Trump. The former president had previously criticized Pence for his role in certifying the election results on January 6, 2021, a move that incited a mob of Trump supporters to storm the Capitol.
Reflecting on their interaction at the funeral, Pence expressed hope for reconciliation. He stated, “The opportunity to speak to the president yesterday is something that I appreciated, I welcomed. I’ve really been blessed at how much I’ve heard from people around the country who saw [our] handshake, and in that handshake, saw some hope that we might be moving past those difficult days.”
Amid the lingering tensions, Pence recalled a poignant moment during one of their final conversations in office. In an act of goodwill, Pence offered to pray for Trump, to which the former president responded dismissively, saying, “Don’t bother.” Pence then acknowledged the fundamental differences in their perspectives, particularly regarding Pence’s constitutional duties on January 6. Despite their disagreements, Pence affirmed his commitment to praying for Trump.
In addressing speculation surrounding his wife Karen Pence’s demeanor towards the Trumps at the funeral, Pence emphasized the enduring respect and love within their longstanding marriage. He remarked, “You’d have to ask my wife about her posture, but we’ve been married 44 years, and she loves her husband, and her husband respects her deeply.”
The encounter between Pence and Trump at the funeral, marked by a cordial exchange, serves as a symbolic gesture of potential reconciliation amidst the backdrop of political tensions and personal differences that have defined their relationship in recent years.
