In a speech introducing his 2024 campaign, former US vice president Mike Pence delivered his strongest denunciation of Donald Trump to yet.
The Republican charged that Mr. Trump had abandoned conservative beliefs and been dishonest to the US constitution.
The former governor and congressman of Indiana officially launched his presidential candidacy on Wednesday.
He will now be competing against his two-time running mate, with whom he shared the White House from 2017 to 21.
Mr. Pence stated during a speech in Ankeny, Iowa, that Mr. Trump had aided the mob that invaded the US Capitol on January 6, 2021, and had falsely implied that Mr. Pence had the authority to void the election.
“But the American people deserve to know that on that day, President Trump also demanded that I choose between him and the constitution,” he added.
The identical decision will now be presented to voters: “I chose the constitution and I always will.”
He also said that Mr. Trump should not be allowed to run for office again because of what he did on January 6.
He declared, “I believe that no one should ever be president of the United States who puts themselves above the constitution.”
“And no one should ever again serve as president of the United States if they asked someone else to put them over the Constitution.”
Democrat Joe Biden was also targeted by Mr. Pence, 64, who claimed that neither he nor Mr. Trump are typical Americans who know how to “treat each other with kindness and respect even when we disagree.”
His address was largely devoted to his differences with Mr. Trump, but he also attacked Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, a rival Republican for the presidency in 2024.
“Donald Trump and others who would seek the presidency would walk away from our traditional role on the world stage,” he said, criticizing Mr. DeSantis for his recent comments regarding the conflict in Ukraine.
The Republican competition for the 2024 candidacy is getting more and more crowded with Mr. Pence, a Christian conservative.
Chris Christie, a former governor of New Jersey, started his campaign on Tuesday. Governor of the North Doug Burgum also declared his candidacy on Wednesday.
A former vice president almost never runs against an ex-boss for the presidency.
A Reuters-Ipsos poll conducted last month found that Mr. Pence is polling at 5%, compared to Mr. Trump’s 44%.
Throughout the most of their four years in office, Mr. Pence was regarded as Mr. Trump’s steadfastly loyal deputy.
But ever since the riot at the US Capitol, he has distanced himself.
When he oversaw the certification of results in Congress, Mr. Trump put pressure on Mr. Pence to annul Joe Biden’s victory and criticized him for lacking “courage” when he refused.
Many Trump supporters consider Vice President Pence to be a traitor, and some protesters were heard yelling “hang Mike Pence” as they stormed the corridors of Congress.
