Even after experts and media outlets called the 2020 election for now-President Joe Biden, former President Donald Trump insisted that the results would be overturned, after widespread non-existent fraud was revealed.
After courts repeatedly denied the Trump campaign's attempts to overturn election results in swing states Trump lost, the former President's supporters looked to January 6—the day of a joint congressional session, overseen by then-Vice President Mike Pence, where Congress would acknowledge Biden's victory.
This joint session, which occurs after very election, had been little more than clerical in the past, and the Vice President's role a purely administrative one.
But Trump and other conservatives insisted that Pence had the authority to unilaterally throw out electoral votes if there were objections. Even more absurdly, some said Pence could choose "alternate" Republican electors to cast electoral votes in swing states, even though these states went blue and these so-called electors had no legitimacy.
It was a mess.
When Pence didn't acquiesce to Trump's demands to exercise powers unavailable to him, Trump supporters were livid. Those who eventually stormed the Capitol that day chanted to "Hang Mike Pence," and even erected a gallows outside.
Now, Pence is on a speaking tour across the country—the precursor of a presumed 2024 election bid.
At a stop in Simi Valley, California, Pence doubled down on his decision to certify the election, and appeared to take a swipe at Trump.
Watch below.
Pence says it would have been unlawful for him to hand Trump a second term. Pence says he's proud of his actions on Jan 6.\n\n"The truth is there's almost no idea more un-American than the notion that any one person could choose the American president."pic.twitter.com/milMk3hSfY— Jan Wolfe (@Jan Wolfe) 1624586923
The former Vice President said:
"I will always be proud that we did our part on that tragic day to reconvene the Congress and fulfilled our duty under the Constitution and the laws of the United States. The truth is, there is almost no idea more un-American than the notion that any one person could choose the American president."
Conservatives who subscribed to Trump's election delusions weren't happy.
So @Mike_Pence is still whining about Jan. 6th like he's Nancy Pelosi or Chuck Schumer and that's all you really need to know about Mike Pence.— Emerald Robinson \u271d\ufe0f (@Emerald Robinson \u271d\ufe0f) 1624627928
@Mike_Pence I had much respect for you as a Christian man,and our Vice President but after you failed not to certify the fraudulent election in several states I lost that respect, and blame what\u2019s happening to our country squarely on the weak republican leadership. Blessings.https://twitter.com/mike_pence/status/1408276041886580741\u00a0\u2026— Gibson4governor (@Gibson4governor) 1624625976
Pence is done. No courage or backbone to stand up for a legitimate recount and audit that some States were asking for. It\u2019s clear there was fraud on a massive scale in the dark of night. \nHe helped ruin÷ our country.\n\nPresident Trump won.\nTHAT is NOT the \u201cBig Lie\u201d!https://twitter.com/BoSnerdley/status/1408390207939006470\u00a0\u2026— MMorgan (@MMorgan) 1624626173
@Mike_Pence will go down as a traitor!\n\u201cThere is no idea more un-American than the notion 1 person could choose the American president. I am proud we did our part on that tragic day to reconvene the Congress & fulfilled our duty under the Constitution.\u201dhttps://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2021/06/watch-mike-pence-says-proud-certify-election-joe-biden\u00a0\u2026— Trina Solis (@Trina Solis) 1624630113
What a lying pos Rino If he thinks he\u2019s got a shot at a presidential run, it would only prove he\u2019s a useful tool of the DEMONRATShttps://twitter.com/jannwolfe/status/1408245742972588035\u00a0\u2026— Patriotic Mom not a human/magnet hybrid (@Patriotic Mom not a human/magnet hybrid) 1624629925
You\u2019re one of them. A Traitor to The Constitution.— DsGi #UsurperBiden \u271d\ufe0f\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8\ud83d\udc60 (@DsGi #UsurperBiden \u271d\ufe0f\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8\ud83d\udc60) 1624639952
The responses from critics of the Trump administration weren't kind either.
Covering pence incrementally, forgetting the context of his silence, and his complicity...is a mistake. The truth is...he did the minimum to certify. Literally he was a ministerial figure. And mainly he ignored and empowered lies for years. That is his legacy.https://twitter.com/maggienyt/status/1408250710580469761\u00a0\u2026— Christopher C. Cuomo (@Christopher C. Cuomo) 1624615523
Too little too latehttps://twitter.com/maggienyt/status/1408250710580469761\u00a0\u2026— Jessica Cammarano (@Jessica Cammarano) 1624631099
Pence being truthful\u2026checks notes\u2026six months later? So brave. So strong.https://twitter.com/maggieNYT/status/1408250710580469761\u00a0\u2026— Melissa \ud83d\udc89 (@Melissa \ud83d\udc89) 1624626583
Trump remains the frontrunner for the 2024 GOP nomination—if he decides to run.
@PreetBharara/X
@RepBrendanBoyle/X
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@christopherharris/Bluesky
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@FrankC164/X
AMC