27-05-2025
Pence supportive of Trump policies
ANDERSON — Former Vice President Mike Pence voiced support for most of the actions President Donald Trump has taken during his second term in the White house.
Pence served as Trump's vice president during his first term in office. He was interviewed in Anderson by The Herald Bulletin on Friday.
The vice president was in Anderson to address graduates of the Indiana Christian Academy.
'I think this administration has set the nation back on a course of strength and prosperity like we have not experienced in the past four years,' Pence said when asked for his view of the direction of the country.
'I'm grateful the Congress passed the budget bill and made the tax cuts permanent, with a historic investment in our military,' he added.
Pence said he supports efforts to make the government more efficient. He noted Trump has said that many would be surprised how much government would not be missed.
'Tracking down and ending abuse is very worthy,' he said. 'Have they done it perfectly? Probably not. They have admitted to some errors along the way.
'What I'm looking for is Congress to do their job,' Pence continued. 'It's one thing for the president to sign an executive order and change spending. Congress controls the purse strings; what I'm looking for is for the leaders in Congress to take those recommendations and bring them into the legislative process and let the American people work their will on everything from education to welfare.'
Pence said he supports the efforts President Trump is making to keep peace in the Middle East.
'We take issue with some of the direction in the wavering support for our allies in the Ukraine, but it seems now to be going back in the right direction following the unprovoked Russian invasion,' he said.
Regarding the back-and-forth decisions by Trump on tariffs, Pence voiced opposition — except in the case of trade with China.
'No matter how well intended, I think it will ultimately hurt consumers and the country and could well harm our economy in the long term,' Pence said of the increase in tariffs. 'My view is we should have free trade with free nations.
'I learned as a Congressman and governor that trade means jobs and markets for what we make and grow,' he said. 'We will continue to be a voice against unilateral, broad-based tariffs.'
He believes the country should take a strong stance on China and end decades of trade abuses and intellectual property theft.
'We need to stand strong,' he said of China's aggression.
Pence said he also supports efforts by the Trump administration when it comes to immigration.
'I believe that President Trump has secured the southern border of the United States,' he said. 'We had the worst border crisis in the history of the country, with the number of people that have surged across the border in the past four years and not just along our southern border but in communities across the country.'
Pence said the Trump administration has brought back policies previously in place to secure the border.
Pence, when asked about his future political plans, said he has no plans to run for office again.
'I have been blessed more than I ever could have imagined,' he said. 'When I was growing up, my dream was to be the Congressman from my hometown. I've had the chance to be governor of Indiana, serve as vice president and even to run for president.
'Whatever the future holds for me and my family, we will continue to do our part to be a champion for the values and ideals that I was raised to believe in here in the heartland,' Pence said.
