Trump says Pence ‘mortally wounded’ in GOP because of actions on Jan. 6

Former President Trump said this weekend that former Vice President Mike Pence has been “mortally wounded” by allowing the congressional certification of the 2020 election results.

“I was disappointed in one thing, but it was a big thing,” Trump said during a ticketed event in Sunrise, Fla., on Saturday, according to CNN.

“Mike should have sent those crooked votes back to the legislatures and you would have had a different result in the election, in my opinion,” the former president told the audience at the stop on Bill O’Reilly’s “History Tour.”

Trump implied that Pence wouldn’t get support from voters because of his alleged inaction on Jan. 6.

“I think Mike has been very badly hurt by what took place in respect to January 6. I think he’s been mortally wounded, frankly, because I see the reaction he’s getting from people,” Trump added, per CNN.

Pence has recently fueled speculation about a 2024 presidential run, making several campaign-style stops in the crucial primary state of New Hampshire. 

Pence affirmed the 2020 election results despite calls from Trump and his supporters to block the certification. Pence has repeatedly stated that he did not have the constitutional authority to reject or return state-certified electoral votes.

During the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol, some rioters were heard chanting, “Hang Mike Pence,” for his role in certifying President Biden’s win. Pence was removed from the Senate soon after the Capitol was breached. 

Pence said in December that he believes he “did the right thing” when he certified the results of the 2020 presidential election in January.

Pence did not immediately respond to The Hill’s request for comment.

Trump did not answer on Saturday when asked by O’Reilly if he would pick Pence as his running mate if he were to run in 2024.

“I don’t love this question because there are a lot of them,” Trump said, suggesting that Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) “would be good” as well.