Former Vice President Mike Pence delivered a sharp critique of Donald Trump's second administration on Sunday, arguing that the current White House has abandoned the conservative principles that have anchored Republican ideology for decades.
Speaking on NBC's "Meet the Press," Pence said the Trump administration has "departed" from the agenda of limited government, free market economics, American leadership, and abortion restrictions that defined the GOP from Ronald Reagan onward. While acknowledging Trump's popularity with Republican voters, Pence suggested the party risks electoral consequences if it continues down this path.
"I think in many respects Republicans have lost our way, but Democrats have lost their mind," Pence said, arguing that Republican victories in upcoming midterm races would stem from Democratic overreach rather than GOP strength.
Pence's most pointed objection focused on the administration's handling of abortion policy. He criticized the Justice Department's handling of abortion pill restrictions and specifically faulted Health and Human Services Secretary for what he characterized as a pro-abortion stance. The administration, Pence said, has effectively relegated abortion restrictions to individual states rather than pursuing federal limits.
"This administration, we see a desire to relegate the right to life to a state-only issue," Pence told moderator Kristen Welker, calling the approach a departure from decades of Republican platform commitments.
The former vice president also took aim at a Justice Department fund designed to compensate individuals who believe they were unfairly targeted by federal authorities. The mechanism, which holds nearly $1.8 billion in potential payouts, has drawn scrutiny because some people charged for their roles in the January 6 Capitol riot could potentially qualify for compensation.
A federal judge temporarily blocked the fund last week, but Pence said he viewed its very existence as troubling. He called it "deeply offensive" that people charged with assaulting police officers or vandalizing the Capitol during the January 6 riot could receive taxpayer money, particularly after Trump pardoned roughly 1,500 people charged for actions that day.
"I would encourage the administration just to drop it," Pence said of the weaponization fund.
Pence was present in the Capitol on January 6, 2021, to certify the election results when the riot erupted and had to be evacuated from the building. His assessment of the compensation fund appears rooted in that personal experience.
Despite his criticism of Trump's direction, Pence expressed confidence that Republicans retain core conservative voters who share traditional party values. He suggested that if GOP candidates emphasize limited government, tax cuts, deregulation, and abortion restrictions in 2028, those voters would support them, even if they currently favor Trump-aligned candidates in primaries.
The former vice president's comments come as Republicans navigate the Texas Senate GOP primary, where Attorney General Ken Paxton defeated long-serving Senator John Cornyn last week. Paxton will now face Democrat James Talarico in the general election, a race Pence highlighted as illustrative of how Democratic positions could drive Republican success regardless of Trump-era shifts in party messaging.
Author Sarah Mitchell: "Pence's sermon about conservative principles rings hollow when the party he's lecturing still backs Trump overwhelmingly, making his warnings feel more like a lonely lament than a genuine course correction."
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