Former Vice President Mike Pence’s adviser has declared his endorsement for former President Donald Trump for the Republican nomination in 2024.
Keith Kellogg, who served as Pence’s national security advisor, told RealClearPolitics that he supported Trump “well before Mike Pence even became a gleam in his eye.”
However, Kellogg’s endorsement was what drew criticism. In addition to praising the previous president, the retired U.S. Army lieutenant general also criticized Pence. Kellogg made news by declaring that Pence was “unworthy of the presidency” after the former vice president qualified for the first primary debate.
“While I respect [Pence’s] service to our Nation, I must express my disappointment in his recent actions regarding President Trump. It is not the decisive leadership that we have seen from President Trump. Where President Trump is bold and unafraid to challenge the status quo, Pence has often chosen the passive route, avoiding confrontation,” Kellogg wrote in a statement on Truth Social.
“While President Trump has consistently put America first, prioritizing our citizens, our economy, and global standing, Pence’s actions have often seemed more focused on political maneuvering and maintaining his image. That is not what Republican voters want. President Trump’s dedication to the prosperity and security of the United States is unwavering, as is his vision for the future,” the statement continued.
Kellogg took on the role of acting national security advisor for the Trump campaign in 2016 after Michael Flynn’s departure. Pence chose Kellogg to counsel him on national security matters. And on the morning of January 6, 2021, Kellogg was present in the Oval Office with Trump while Robert O’Brien was absent.
Pence, who is also running for president next year, blasted his former running mate following his third indictment.
“Today’s indictment serves as an important reminder: anyone who puts himself over the Constitution should never be President of the United States,” he said in a statement.
The former vice president doubled down on his condemnation of Trump during an interview with Fox News, wherein he said that the former president and his “gaggle of crackpot lawyers” asked him not to certify the Electoral College votes on January 6, 2021.
This comes after Trump was indicted for the third time over his alleged involvement in the Capitol riot on January 6, marking the second time in American history that a former president has faced criminal charges.
