Over the weekend, former Vice President Mike Pence criticized former President Trump for his role in the January 6Capitol riot, saying history would hold Trump accountable, the Associated Press reported.
During his remarks at the annual Gridiron Dinner Saturday night, Pence said that Trump was “wrong” for claiming that he could “overturn the election,” saying the former president’s “reckless words” put his family and everyone else at the Capitol in danger on January 6.
In the days leading up to January 6, then-President Trump had pressured Pence to stop the certification of state electors while he presided over the Congressional certification vote. However, Pence refused, arguing that his role was ceremonial, and he did not have the constitutional authority to reject electors.
In his remarks, Pence called what happened on January 6 “a disgrace” and said it is a mockery of decency to describe it “any other way.”
Pence’s harsh words were surprising as speeches at the Gridiron Dinner are traditionally humorous, with politicians poking fun at each other. Though much of the rest of Pence’s remarks were of a more humorous note.
The former Trump Veep joked about his boss’s fragile ego, saying that in their weekly lunches, Trump wanted him to sing “did you ever know that you’re my hero” from the song “Wind Beneath My Wings.”
Pence also mocked Trump over the classified documents found at Mar-a-Lago, joking that some of the classified documents were stuck inside Trump’s Bible, proving that he had “no idea they were there.”
Pence also mocked the embattled, incompetent Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, saying he was the only person in history to “have a child” that leaves everyone else with “post-partum depression.”
In response to Pence’s remarks, on Monday, an angry Trump lashed out, telling reporters in Iowa that Pence was to blame for the riot on January 6, according to The Hill.
Trump claimed that if Pence had done as he demanded and sent the electoral votes back to the state legislatures, no riot would have happened.
