Former Vice President Mike Pence said that whatever occurred on “that horrible day,” Jan. 6, 2021, “was a dishonor, and it disrespects dignity to present it in another way” at the annual Gridiron Dinner in Washington this month.” The then-president’s “irresponsible words,” Pence warned, threatened his family, congresspeople, and the Capitol Officers, “and I believe that time will judge Donald Trump responsible.”
Despite this, neither Pence nor none of the other confirmed or rumored GOP presidential candidates has argued for making Trump politically or socially responsible at this time.
Former South Carolina governor and U.N. ambassador Nikki Haley stated following the attack on the Capitol that Trump “will be unfairly remembered by history.” She responded that he had “gone so far” and was so alone that he might no more “be in the image” when questioned about how he should be held responsible. ” We want him in the Republican Party, Haley continued some months later. I would prefer that we not return to life under Trump.” Besides that, she stated that if Trump ran for president in 2024, she will not.
Haley intended to run for the Republican presidential nomination in February 2023. She avoided mentioning the former president, instead highlighting the importance of a “younger generation of leaders.”
