Former President Donald Trump has swiftly rejected claims that he ever instructed his vice president, Mike Pence, to prioritize him over the Constitution. In his initial response following the conclusion of the inaugural Republican primary debate, Trump vehemently denied the allegations on his recently launched social media platform, Truth Social.
In his post on Truth Social, Trump asserted, “I never asked Mike Pence to put me above the Constitution. Who would say such a thing? A FAKE STORY!” This marked his first public statement after the significant Republican debate.
The controversy stemmed from former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie’s comments during the debate. Christie praised Pence for upholding his duty as a public servant, prioritizing his oath of office and the Constitution over personal, political, and undue pressure. This recognition pertained to Pence’s actions on January 6, 2021, when he played a crucial role in the congressional certification of electoral votes.
Pence, during the same debate, also addressed the question of whether he would pledge to pardon Trump. Although he didn’t explicitly commit to such a pledge, he also refrained from categorically ruling out the possibility.
Notably, Trump maintained a relatively low profile on his Truth Social platform during the course of the debate. However, he did engage in multiple posts leading up to the event. In contrast to the debate, he opted for counterprogramming, featuring an interview with former Fox News host Tucker Carlson, which was shared on Carlson’s platform, X, previously known as Twitter.
The quick and direct response from Trump on Truth Social highlights his ongoing efforts to engage with his base and address contentious topics directly, bypassing traditional media channels.
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