With Donald Trump, Mike Pence finally reached his breaking point, and it wasn’t pretty.
One of Trump’s advisers claimed that the vice president had entered “Sessions territory,” alluding to the attorney general who was tortured by the president before being dismissed, Jeff Sessions.
Donald Trump’s Ego
Washington: The time had come for Vice President Mike Pence to make a decision. There he was being cursed by the president after three years and eleven months of navigating the perilous waters of President Donald Trump’s ego, after all the tongue-biting, pride-swallowing moments where he used strategic silence or florid flattery to stay in his boss’ good graces.
Trump was furious that Pence was not attempting to void the election. The president had repeatedly pressed him in meetings, alternately browbeating and cajoling him. Last Wednesday, just before Pence left for the Capitol to supervise the electoral vote count, Trump called the vice president’s home to make one final push.
Trump Told Him
According to two people briefed on the conversation, Trump told him, “You can either go down in history as a patriot, or you can go down in history as a pussy.”
Hang Mike Pence
The conflict between the country’s two highest elected officials then took a dramatic turn as the vice president was publicly criticised by the president at a fiery rally and enraged supporters stormed the Capitol, some of whom were chanting “Hang Mike Pence.”
Pence was evacuated to the basement, where he huddled for hours as Trump chose to tweet criticism of him rather than call to inquire about his well-being.
It was a remarkable breakup of a relationship that had persevered through too many difficulties to count.
Powerless to Avoid
The devoted lieutenant, who had largely avoided deviating from the president and had fine-tuned every other potential split, finally reached a decision he was powerless to avoid. Despite the president and despite the mob, he would uphold the election. And he would pay the price with the political support he had earlier hoped to mobilise for a presidential run of his own.
A Legal Expert
John Yoo, a legal expert who was consulted by Pence’s office, said that when given the choice between fulfilling his constitutional duty and securing his political future, Pence chose the right course. For both Democrats and Republicans, he was, in my opinion, the man of the moment in many ways. He performed his duty despite the fact that, at the time, he must have known that doing so likely meant he would never be elected president.
Conclusion
Former Arizona senator Jeff Flake, one of the most vocal Trump detractors and a longtime friend of Pence before they fell out over the president, expressed relief that the vice president had finally taken a position.
Flake said, “There were many instances where I wished he would have broken away or spoken up, but I’m glad he did it when he did. Although I’m glad he did it now, I wish he had done it sooner. And I was certain he would.
