Former Vice President Mike Pence caused an uproar among Donald Trump’s most ardent followers on Monday after posting a message on social media that was, well, reasonable.
In his message, Pence thanked President Joe Biden for making “the right decision” and “putting the interests of our nation above his own” in ending his presidential campaign.
He also said Biden’s departure from the campaign and the attempted assassination of Trump indicate it is time for “leaders from both parties to project calm and send a message of strength and resolve to America’s friends and foes.”
President Joe Biden made the right decision for our country, and I thank him for putting our nation’s interests above his own. After the assassination attempt on President Trump and President Biden’s decision to end his campaign, this is a time for leaders of both parties…
—Mike Pence (@Mike_Pence) July 22, 2024
For those who didn’t really follow politics before 2016, Pence’s post is reminiscent of the kind of reasonable “we’re all Americans” statements politicians made when their rivals retreated from public life.
But such statements were rejected after Trump was elected president, subsequently ignoring this and other accepted political norms (such as conceding an election after you’ve lost or attending the inauguration of the one who defeated you).
As expected, Pence’s reasonable statement angered some of Trump’s MAGA fans, as he so graciously thanked Biden for his service to the country.
That’s why we consider you a traitor, Mike. Fuck off.
— Joey Mannarino (@JoeyMannarinoUS) July 22, 2024
We’re only in this mess because of you, so shut up.
— Freedom
(@PU28453638) July 22, 2024
You should skip this time Mike, nobody gives a damn what you think.
— Gunther Eagleman
(@GuntherEagleman) July 22, 2024
Did a Democrat write this?
— DC_Draino (@DC_Draino) July 22, 2024
Shut up, you bastard.
— Carrie Taylor (@BlackSheepSquad) July 22, 2024
Even a parody of Donald Trump had thoughts.
You let me down as Vice President Mike, support me!
— Donald J. Trump – Parody (@realDonParody) July 22, 2024
A few people thought Pence reminded them of a famous figure from the Bible.
Nobody cares if Judas cries. Shut up.
— Dom Lucre | Breaker of Narratives (@dom_lucre) July 22, 2024
Judas Pence has spoken!
—
Rachel
#TRUMPWON
Meanwhile, others tried to bridge the polarized political divide by telling the former vice president they wished his party members had not tried to have him assassinated during the 2021 uprising.
I’m sorry your president tried to have you killed. Kamala ended up with a better man when she became VP.
— Evan Ross (@MrEvanRoss) July 22, 2024
Thanks Mike Pence. I’m glad you’re alive and not murdered in retaliation for stopping a bunch of world class morons from planning a coup.
— Hank Green (@hankgreen) July 22, 2024
But some people struggled to understand the reasonableness of Pence’s message.
A surprisingly sensible message from Pence.
— Richard Fenton (@RichFenton) July 22, 2024
And of course, at least one person admitted to taking glee in the reactions to Pence’s post.
