Former Vice President Mike Pence revealed his brief conversation with President-elect Trump, which was caught on camera at former President Carter’s state funeral.
The pair have not been seen together in public since they called it quits The white house at odds over the outcome of the 2020 election. At the service at the National Cathedral, Pence rose to shake Trump’s hand, and they appeared to exchange friendly words.
Former second lady Karen Pence, who was sitting next to her husband, did not stand up or acknowledge Trump.
In an interview with Christianity Today, Pence said he “welcomed” the opportunity to speak with Trump.
“He greeted me as he came down the aisle. I stood up, held out my hand. He shook my hand. I said, ‘Congratulations, Mr. President” and he said, “Thank you, Mike,” Pence said.
Former Vice President Al Gore, left, looks on as former Vice President Mike Pence, center, shakes hands with President-elect Trump before the state funeral for former President Carter at the Washington National Cathedral in Washington, DC on January 9, 2025. (Mandel Ngan/Pool/AFP via Getty Images)
Pence also recalled one of his last conversations with Trump in 2021, when he told Trump he would continue to pray for him. Trump replied, “Don’t bother,” the newspaper reported.
“I said, ‘You know, there are probably two things we’ll never agree on. … We’ll probably never agree on what my duty under the Constitution is January 6.’ And then I said, ‘And I’ll never stop praying for you,'” Pence told Christianity Today. “And he said, ‘That’s right, Mike, don’t ever change.'”
He said he kept his word.
Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., speaks before former President Trump, the Republican presidential candidate, at a campaign rally, Nov. 1, 2024, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
While the two appeared to remain cordial at the service for Carter, Pence told the news outlet that he did not think Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. is fit to manage health and human services and was concerned about former US Rep. Tulsi Gabbard serving as director of national intelligence.
Fox News Digital reached out to Trump and Advancing American Freedom, a public policy advocacy organization founded by Pence, for comment, but did not immediately hear back.
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Andrew Mark Miller of Fox News Digital contributed to this article.
