Former United States Vice President Mike Pence said on Saturday that history will hold former President Donald Trump “accountable” for his role in the 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol, US media reported. Pence made the remarks in a speech at the annual Gridiron Dinner in Washington, a white‑tie gala organized by journalists that draws top politicians. He said, “President Trump was wrong. I had no right to overturn the election, and his reckless words endangered my family and everyone at the Capitol that day. I know that history will hold Donald Trump accountable.”
The comments are likely to widen the rift between the former running mates, who have been at loggerheads ever since Pence refused to go along with Trump’s efforts to overturn the 2020 election results. Some of the thousands who stormed the Capitol on January 6, 2021, called for Pence to be hanged, forcing him to flee to a safe location.
Trump has already declared his intention to seek a new term as president in the 2024 elections, and Pence indicated he may challenge him for the Republican nomination. The Gridiron Dinner is usually a light‑hearted event with skits and musical entertainment, and Pence initially sought to poke fun. “I will wholeheartedly, unreservedly support the Republican nominee for president in 2024—if it’s me,” he said.
Pence’s sharp remarks aimed at Trump were unexpected at the gala. “Was at the dinner and can confirm @Mike_Pence definitely caught the room by surprise—lots of dropped jaws,” former State Department official Maryam Mujica tweeted.
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