Trump reportedly told Pence he wouldn't want to be his friend anymore if he didn't block election certification


Former President Donald Trump reportedly tried to hold his friendship with former Vice President Mike Pence hostage as he tried to convince the latter to block Congress' election certification in general, according to an excerpt from the upcoming book Peril by journalists Bob Woodward and Robert Costa.
When Pence told Trump that the Constitution did not allow him to do anything about the certification process, despite claims from some of Trump's supporters, the president first tried to tempt him with the promise of authority. "But wouldn't it be almost cool to have that power?," Trump reportedly asked.
Pence reportedly assured him he didn't think "any one person" should "have that authority" and held his ground, adding that he had "done everything I could and then some to find a way around this," but "it's simply not possible."
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
That's when Trump reportedly began shouting. "You don't understand Mike," he said, according to Woodward and Costa. "You can do this. I don't want to be your friend anymore if you don't do this."
Ultimately, Pence held firm and it appears a wedge did grow between the two in the aftermath, though the precise state of their current relationship has mostly been kept under wraps. Read more from Peril at CNN.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Tim is a staff writer at The Week and has contributed to Bedford and Bowery and The New York Transatlantic. He is a graduate of Occidental College and NYU's journalism school. Tim enjoys writing about baseball, Europe, and extinct megafauna. He lives in New York City.
-
Mountainhead: Jesse Armstrong's tech bro satire sparkles with 'weapons-grade zingers'
The Week Recommends The Succession creator's first feature film lacks the hit TV show's 'dramatic richness' – but makes for a horribly gripping watch
-
Seeing Each Other: Portraits of Artists – a 'riveting' exhibition
The Week Recommends Pallant House exhibition offers fascinating instances of painterly reciprocity
-
Geoff Dyer shares his favourite books on war
The Week Recommends Out of Sheer Rage author chooses works by Martha Gellhorn, Michael Herr and Dexter Filkins
-
Trump may team with a tech company to create a database of Americans
In the Spotlight A recent report indicated that Trump is partnering with the tech company Palantir
-
Trump hits Africa, Middle East with new travel ban
Speed Read The travel ban bars visitors from 12 countries and restricts entry from seven
-
'The bilateral relationship has eroded'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
-
Elon Musk slams Trump's 'pork-filled' signature bill
speed read 'Shame on those who voted for it: you know you did wrong,' Musk posted on X
-
'We need solutions that prioritize both safety and sustainability'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
-
Depleted FEMA struggling as hurricane season begins
speed read FEMA has lost a third of its workforce amid DOGE cuts enforced by President Donald Trump
-
A running list of all the celebrities Trump has pardoned
IN DEPTH Reality stars, rappers and disgraced politicians have received some of the high-profile pardons doled out by the president
-
'The pattern is similar across America'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day