Pence says he and Trump may never 'see eye to eye' on Capitol riot

Former Vice President Mike Pence and former President Donald Trump had very different reactions to the Jan. 6 Capitol riot, and it looks like not much has changed over the last five months.
That day, Pence had to be escorted to safety when a pro-Trump mob — some of them yelling "Hang Mike Pence!" — stormed the Capitol in an attempt to stop the certification of the 2020 presidential election. Trump, meanwhile, was sympathetic to the rioters, saying in a video message, "We love you. You're very special. ... You see the way others are treated that are so bad and so evil. I know how you feel. But go home and go home in peace."
Pence discussed the attack during a speech in New Hampshire on Thursday, saying he still regularly speaks with Trump, and while he doesn't "know if we'll ever see eye to eye" on the riot, "I will always be proud of what we accomplished for the American people over the last four years."
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.
Pence then turned his attention to Democrats and "their allies in the media," saying he "will not allow" them to "use one tragic day to discredit the aspirations of millions of Americans" or "distract our attention from a new administration intent on dividing our country to advance their radical agenda."
Democrats have been pushing for a bipartisan, independent commission to investigate the Jan. 6 assault on the Capitol. Last month, 35 House Republicans helped pass a bill to establish the commission, but Senate Republicans filibustered the legislation.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Catherine Garcia has worked as a senior writer at The Week since 2014. Her writing and reporting have appeared in Entertainment Weekly, The New York Times, Wirecutter, NBC News and "The Book of Jezebel," among others. She's a graduate of the University of Redlands and the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.
-
September 1 editorial cartoons
Cartoons Monday’s political cartoons include Labor Day picnic, branding strategy, and more
-
What is Tony Blair's plan for Gaza?
Today's Big Question Former PM has reportedly been putting together a post-war strategy 'for the past several months'
-
When does autumn begin?
The Explainer The UK is experiencing a 'false autumn', as climate change shifts seasonal weather patterns
-
RFK Jr. names new CDC head as staff revolt
Speed Read Kennedy installed his deputy, Jim O'Neill, as acting CDC director
-
DC prosecutors lose bid to indict sandwich thrower
Speed Read Prosecutors sought to charge Sean Dunn with assaulting a federal officer
-
White House fires new CDC head amid agency exodus
Speed Read CDC Director Susan Monarez was ousted after butting heads with HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. over vaccines
-
DOGE put Social Security data at risk, official says
Speed Read DOGE workers made the personal information of hundreds of millions of Americans vulnerable to identity theft
-
Court rejects Trump suit against Maryland US judges
Speed Read Judge Thomas Cullen, a Trump appointee, said the executive branch had no authority to sue the judges
-
Trump expands National Guard role in policing
Speed Read The president wants the Guard to take on a larger role in domestic law enforcement
-
Trump says he's firing Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook
Speed Read The move is likely part of Trump's push to get the central bank to cut interest rates
-
Abrego released from jail, faces Uganda deportation
Speed Read The wrongly deported Kilmar Abrego García is expected to be detained at an ICE check-in and deported to Uganda