Former Vice President Mike Pence was harsh in his evaluation of the current Trump administration, arguing it was a far cry from when he was second in command.
In an interview with CNN, Pence hit nearly every aspect of President Donald Trump’s second term, criticizing his approaches to tariffs, the Russia-Ukraine war, economics, health, and more. Pence has been vocally critical of Trump beginning months after the end of his first term, with Monday’s interview representing one of his most comprehensive criticisms since the president reentered office.
Pence gave his perspective on the hot issue of trade, saying that he and Trump had discussed their philosophical differences on the topic during his first term, where the then-vice president believed targeted tariffs against countries like Mexico and China were successful. Pence believes things have changed significantly in that realm in the second term.
“I do have concerns that, with the president’s call for broad-based tariffs against friend and foe alike, that ultimately the administration is advancing policies that are not targeted at countries that have been abusing our trade relationship but rather are essentially new industrial policy that will result in inflation, that will harm consumers, and that will ultimately harm the American economy,” he said.
“We ought to be engaging our trading partners across the free world to lower trade barriers, lower nontariff barriers and subsidies. But when it comes to authoritarian regimes, we ought to get tough, stay tough and demand that they open their markets and respect our intellectual property,” adding that the current approach is “not a win for the American people.”
He was particularly critical of Trump’s comments that toy prices could see an increase.
“I have two grown daughters. I have three small granddaughters. And look, keeping dolls affordable, keeping our kids’ toys affordable, that really is part of the American dream,” Pence said.
“I think the American people are going to see the consequences of this. I think they’ll demand a different approach,” he added.
Pence also bashed Trump’s handling of foreign affairs, criticizing his hostile approach to Canada.
“I think Canada has been a great ally of ours, whose soldiers have fought and died alongside Americans in in every war since World War I,” he told the outlet.
He reserved his main criticisms for Trump’s approach to Russia and Ukraine.
“If the last three years teaches us anything, it’s that Vladimir Putin doesn’t want peace; he wants Ukraine. And the fact that we are now nearly two months of following a ceasefire agreement that Ukraine has agreed to and Russia continues to delay and give excuses confirms that point,” Pence argued.
He also claimed that Russia would invade a NATO member if it triumphed in Ukraine.
Pence also took aim at Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., criticizing both his positions on abortion and other health issues.
“The very idea that a Republican president would nominate an abortion rights supporter to lead the Department of Health and Human Services is just unacceptable to me. Policies regarding the sanctity of life, regarding conscience protections, all flow through HHS, and I had those concerns,” he said.
“I do have concerns that we have a secretary at HHS who has a lifetime career of undermining public confidence in vaccines,” Pence continued. “We should have the opposite. And I hope that we continue to hear voices around the country that speak into this moment for the sake of our kids and our grandkids.”
PENCE GIVEN THE PROFILE IN COURAGE AWARD
Pence has been a vocal critic of Trump since their falling out over the Jan. 6 riot. The former vice president also bashed the president’s pardoning of rioters in the interview.
The former Indiana governor mounted an unsuccessful bid for president in 2024 and has since seen his influence wane.
