Latest news with #KennedyLibrary
BreakingNews.ie
05-05-2025
- Politics
- BreakingNews.ie
Leo Varadkar meets Mike Pence after he receives award for January 6th actions
Former taoiseach Leo Varadkar met former US vice president Mike Pence after he received an award for his refusal to go along with Donald Trump's efforts to remain in office after losing the 2020 election. Mr Pence received the John F Kennedy Profile in Courage Award on Sunday. Advertisement In a post on Instagram, Mr Varadkar shared a photo from the Kennedy Library in Boston where he posed with his partner Matt Barrett, Mr Pence and former US ambassador to Ireland Claire Cronin. He captioned the post: "Was a priviledge to be at the Kennedy Library last night to see Caroline Kennedy and Jack Schlossberg present Fmr Vice-President Mike Pence with the Profiles in Courage Award for 2025. It takes real leadership to stand up to your opponents, even more to stand up to your friends." View this post on Instagram A post shared by Leo Varadkar (@leovaradkar) The Profile in Courage Award , named for a book Mr Kennedy published in 1957 before he became president, honours public officials who take principled stands despite the potential political or personal consequences. JFK's daughter Caroline Kennedy, who along with his grandson Jack Schlossberg presented the award, said Mr Pence's actions that day were a reminder that you cannot take democracy for granted. Advertisement The award recognises Mr Pence 'for putting his life and career on the line to ensure the constitutional transfer of presidential power on Jan 6, 2021,' the JFK Library Foundation said. 'To forge a future together, we have to find common ground,' Mr Pence said. 'I hope in some small way my presence here tonight is a reminder that whatever differences we may have as Americans, the Constitution is the common ground on which we stand. It's what binds us across time and generations… It's what makes us one people.' Mr Varadkar is currently in Boston after taking up a post as a guest lecturer in Harvard University. Advertisement Mr Varadkar and Mr Barrett previously met Mr Pence during the St Patrick's Day trip to Washington in 2019, when Mr Varadkar was taoiseach. There was some uncertainty prior to the meeting as Mr Pence, a conservative Christian, had been criticised for his views on LGBT issues and his opposition to same-sex marriage. Ireland Varadkar says US is no longer 'reliable political... Read More After Mr Pence had welcomed the couple, Mr Varadkar used his speech to support the LGBT community in the US. I stand here this morning as leader of my country, flawed and human, but judged by my political actions and not by my sexual orientation or my skin tone or my gender or religious beliefs. "And I don't believe my country is the only one in the world where this story is possible. It is found in every country where freedom and liberty are cherished. We are, after all, all God's children." Mr Pence subsequently praised Mr Varadkar for his "inspiring words".
Yahoo
04-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Mike Pence to get JFK Profile in Courage Award for certification of 2020 election
Former Vice President Mike Pence will be given the 2025 John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Award for certifying the 2020 election results after rioters rampaged through the U.S. Capitol, the John F. Kennedy Library Foundation revealed on Thursday. Then-vice president to President Donald Trump during his first term, Pence certified former President Joe Biden as the winner of the 2020 election despite Trump pressuring him to toss out the results during the certification on January 6, 2021 as Trump supporters laid siege to the Capitol. The daughter of President Kennedy, Caroline Kennedy, and her son, Jack Schlossberg, said in a statement announcing the foundation's decision that Pence's actions were 'an example of President Kennedy's belief that an act of political courage can change the course of history.' Pence is set to receive the award from Kennedy and Schlossberg at the Kennedy Library in Boston on May 4. 'Despite our political differences, it is hard to imagine an act of greater consequence than Vice President Pence's decision to certify the 2020 presidential election during an attack on the U.S. Capitol,' said mother and son. 'Upholding his oath to the Constitution and following his conscience, the Vice President put his life, career, and political future on the line.' Rioters that day chanted: 'Hang Mike Pence,' and a noose hung from a makeshift scaffold outside the Capitol. In the press release, Pence said he was 'deeply humbled and honored.' 'I have been inspired by the life and words of President John F. Kennedy since my youth and am honored to join the company of so many distinguished Americans who have received this recognition in the past,' he added. The Kennedys also said in the statement that 'political courage is not outdated in the United States.' 'At every level of government, leaders are putting country first, and not backing down,' they added. The Kennedys said Pence's 'decision is an example of President Kennedy's belief that an act of political courage can change the course of history.' The award comes as Pence's former boss works to bend academic institutions and foreign governments to his will through tariffs and withdrawals of government funding, in addition to other measures. Pence slammed Trump's tariffs in a post on X on Wednesday, writing: 'The Trump Tariff Tax is the largest peacetime tax hike in U.S. history. These Tariffs are nearly 10x the size of those imposed during the Trump-Pence Administration and will cost American families over $3,500 per year.' The Kennedy Profile in Courage award has been presented each year since 1989 to 'public servants who have made courageous decisions of conscience without regard for the personal or professional consequences.' In 2024, the award was given to the Republican Secretary of State of Kentucky, Michael Adams, for 'expanding voting rights and standing up for free and fair elections despite party opposition.' Pence has faced ostracism by Trump and the rest of the Republican Party after refusing to adhere to Trump's demands to toss out the 2020 election, which Trump lost.
The Independent
04-04-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Mike Pence to get JFK Profile in Courage Award for certification of 2020 election
Former Vice President Mike Pence will be given the 2025 John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Award for certifying the 2020 election results after rioters rampaged through the U.S. Capitol, the John F. Kennedy Library Foundation revealed on Thursday. Then-vice president to President Donald Trump during his first term, Pence certified former President Joe Biden as the winner of the 2020 election despite Trump pressuring him to toss out the results during the certification on January 6, 2021 as Trump supporters laid siege to the Capitol. The daughter of President Kennedy, Caroline Kennedy, and her son, Jack Schlossberg, said in a statement announcing the foundation's decision that Pence's actions were 'an example of President Kennedy's belief that an act of political courage can change the course of history.' Pence is set to receive the award from Kennedy and Schlossberg at the Kennedy Library in Boston on May 4. 'Despite our political differences, it is hard to imagine an act of greater consequence than Vice President Pence's decision to certify the 2020 presidential election during an attack on the U.S. Capitol,' said mother and son. 'Upholding his oath to the Constitution and following his conscience, the Vice President put his life, career, and political future on the line.' Rioters that day chanted: 'Hang Mike Pence,' and a noose hung from a makeshift scaffold outside the Capitol. In the press release, Pence said he was 'deeply humbled and honored.' 'I have been inspired by the life and words of President John F. Kennedy since my youth and am honored to join the company of so many distinguished Americans who have received this recognition in the past,' he added. The Kennedys also said in the statement that 'political courage is not outdated in the United States.' 'At every level of government, leaders are putting country first, and not backing down,' they added. The Kennedys said Pence's 'decision is an example of President Kennedy's belief that an act of political courage can change the course of history.' The award comes as Pence's former boss works to bend academic institutions and foreign governments to his will through tariffs and withdrawals of government funding, in addition to other measures. Pence slammed Trump's tariffs in a post on X on Wednesday, writing: 'The Trump Tariff Tax is the largest peacetime tax hike in U.S. history. These Tariffs are nearly 10x the size of those imposed during the Trump-Pence Administration and will cost American families over $3,500 per year.' The Kennedy Profile in Courage award has been presented each year since 1989 to 'public servants who have made courageous decisions of conscience without regard for the personal or professional consequences.' In 2024, the award was given to the Republican Secretary of State of Kentucky, Michael Adams, for 'expanding voting rights and standing up for free and fair elections despite party opposition.' Pence has faced ostracism by Trump and the rest of the Republican Party after refusing to adhere to Trump's demands to toss out the 2020 election, which Trump lost.
Yahoo
03-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Pence to receive JFK Profile in Courage Award for 2020 election certification
Former Vice President Mike Pence will receive the 2025 John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Award for certifying the 2020 election results, the John F. Kennedy Library Foundation announced Thursday. Pence presided over the certification of Joe Biden as the winner of the 2020 election, even as Donald Trump pressured him to overturn the results while the president's supporters waged an angry attack on the U.S. Capitol. In a statement announcing the foundation's decision to present Pence with the award, Caroline Kennedy — the daughter of the former president — and Jack Schlossberg — Caroline Kennedy's son — wrote that Pence's decision on Jan. 6, 2020, was 'an example of President Kennedy's belief that an act of political courage can change the course of history.' Kennedy and Schlossberg are set to present Pence with the award on May 4 at the Kennedy Library in Boston. 'Despite our political differences, it is hard to imagine an act of greater consequence than Vice President Pence's decision to certify the 2020 presidential election during an attack on the U.S. Capitol,' they wrote. 'Upholding his oath to the Constitution and following his conscience, the Vice President put his life, career, and political future on the line.' Pence in the same release said that he was 'deeply humbled and honored' to receive the award. The statement from the two Kennedy descendants also pointedly noted 'political courage is not outdated in the United States,' at a time when Trump continues wielding the power of his office to pressure entities from academic institutions to foreign governments into bending to his will. The foundation has presented the Profile in Courage award annually since 1989 to 'public servants who have made courageous decisions of conscience without regard for the personal or professional consequences.' Last year's recipient was Republican Kentucky Secretary of State Michael Adams, who was awarded for 'expanding voting rights and standing up for free and fair elections despite party opposition.' The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Politico
03-04-2025
- Politics
- Politico
Pence to receive JFK Profile in Courage Award for 2020 election certification
Former Vice President Mike Pence will receive the 2025 John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Award for certifying the 2020 election results, the John F. Kennedy Library Foundation announced Thursday. Pence presided over the certification of Joe Biden as the winner of the 2020 election, even as Donald Trump pressured him to overturn the results while the president's supporters waged an angry attack on the U.S. Capitol. In a statement announcing the foundation's decision to present Pence with the award, Caroline Kennedy — the daughter of the former president — and Jack Schlossberg — Caroline Kennedy's son — wrote that Pence's decision on Jan. 6, 2020, was 'an example of President Kennedy's belief that an act of political courage can change the course of history.' Kennedy and Schlossberg are set to present Pence with the award on May 4 at the Kennedy Library in Boston. 'Despite our political differences, it is hard to imagine an act of greater consequence than Vice President Pence's decision to certify the 2020 presidential election during an attack on the U.S. Capitol,' they wrote. 'Upholding his oath to the Constitution and following his conscience, the Vice President put his life, career, and political future on the line.' Pence in the same release said that he was 'deeply humbled and honored' to receive the award. The statement from the two Kennedy descendants also pointedly noted 'political courage is not outdated in the United States,' at a time when Trump continues wielding the power of his office to pressure entities from academic institutions to foreign governments into bending to his will . The foundation has presented the Profile in Courage award annually since 1989 to 'public servants who have made courageous decisions of conscience without regard for the personal or professional consequences.' Last year's recipient was Republican Kentucky Secretary of State Michael Adams, who was awarded for 'expanding voting rights and standing up for free and fair elections despite party opposition.' The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
