Former Vice President Mike Pence’s Friday afternoon appearance at the National Rifle Association (NRA) conference drew a less than enthusiastic response.
Following his introduction by NRA CEO Wayne LaPierre, Pence was met with raucous jeers from some attendees who appeared to have a great disdain for the former vice president and were trying to drown out those who were cheering him.
Pence opened, “Well, hello, NRA,” to more jeers.
Then, a spectator shouted over the catcalls, “We love you, Mike!”
Pence replied, “I love you too,” as other audience members chuckled.
When speaking later that day, former president Donald Trump seemed to make fun of Pence for the jeers, telling the gathering that he’d heard their welcome had “made news.”
As the audience continued to boo, Trump replied, “I hope you gave Pence warm approval.”
When Trump first said, “No, because he is a nice man if you want to know the truth,” it looked like he would stop the audience from jeering. He is. He is a decent dude.
Then, though, he clarified that he had heard Pence’s appearance had been “very rough” before continuing to make light of the situation.
It’s a major news item. Today, you made headlines. I don’t know what you did, but the introduction you gave today made news,” he remarked before detailing the polls that showed him ahead of Pence and all other announced and possible Republican presidential contenders.
Following his participation in certifying the results of the 2020 presidential election following the Trump supporters’ riot at the U.S. Capitol on January 6, Pence has lost favor with many Republicans. According to the former president, the results were fabricated as part of a plot to steal the election from him to give Vice President Biden the presidency.
Pence is said to be considering a run for the presidency, but he has yet to declare if he will ultimately put to oppose Trump, who is the front-runner.
