(Headline USA) Former Vice President Mike Pence teased a 2024 presidential bid during an event at the University of Virginia this week.
Asked about whether he’s planning on throwing his hat into the ring, Pence told students: “I’ll keep you posted.”
He also previewed what a Pence administration might look like, expressing support for Republican states passing legislation to protect women’s sports from transgender athletes.
“I know that in his State of the Union address President Biden promised to stand for the God-given right of men to compete in women’s sports,” Pence said. “But common sense needs to reign and it will reign. We need to defend the integrity of women’s sports in America for the benefit of women everywhere.”
“Emma Weyant won that race,” he added, referring to the NCAA swimmer who came in second after transgender swimmer Lia Thomas placed first in the 500-meter freestyle.
Pence also reiterated his support for Ukraine, calling the country’s president Volodymyr Zelenskyy “deeply inspiring.”
If Pence does enter the 2024 race, he might have to campaign against his former boss, Donald Trump, who has also hinted at another presidential bid.
Trump and Pence have publicly distanced themselves since the Jan. 6 Capitol protests, when Trump encouraged rally-goers to demand that Pence stop the Senate from certifying Joe Biden’s election victory. Trump argued at the time that Pence had the constitutional right to overturn the election results. But Pence has argued that he had no such authority.
“President Trump is wrong. I had no right to overturn the election,” he said during an event in February.
Trump has since ruled out picking Pence as his vice president again, if he were to launch another campaign.
“I don’t think the people would accept it,” he said recently. “Mike and I had a great relationship, except for the very important factor that took place at the end. We had a very good relationship. I haven’t spoken to him in a long time.”
