Mike Pence and President Trump had a brief but significant exchange during Jimmy Carter’s funeral, and it’s got people talking. In an interview with Christianity Today, Pence revealed that he congratulated Trump on his landslide victory over Kamala Harris, signaling a moment that some see as a possible thaw in their frosty relationship.
“He greeted me when he came down the aisle,” Pence explained. “I stood up, extended my hand. He shook my hand. I said, ‘Congratulations, Mr. President,’ and he said, ‘Thanks, Mike.’”
I think Karen is a very appropriate name for Mike Pence’s miserable wife. pic.twitter.com/zYhXnGuiqt
— Ben Kew (@ben_kew) January 9, 2025
Simple. Civil. But loaded with political undertones.
Pence went on to say he was grateful for the opportunity to speak with Trump, hinting that this public handshake could symbolize moving past the division of recent years. “I’ve really been blessed at how much I’ve heard from people around the country who saw [our] handshake, and in that handshake, saw some hope that we might be moving past those difficult days. That’s certainly my hope.”
But let’s be honest—this handshake isn’t erasing the deep scars between Trump and Pence. Pence’s actions on January 6th, 2021, still hang like a dark cloud over him. On that day, Pence certified the 2020 election results, despite widespread claims of election fraud. To many in the MAGA movement, this was nothing short of betrayal. Pence went from being Trump’s most loyal ally and the darling of evangelical conservatives to being viewed as a turncoat who abandoned the America First agenda when it mattered most.
His political career hasn’t exactly thrived since. Pence’s half-hearted 2024 presidential campaign flopped so badly that he dropped out before the primaries even kicked off. And let’s not forget how he promised to support the eventual Republican nominee but then refused to endorse Trump after his comeback victory. Classic Pence—always talking about principle but never standing firm.
Adding to the awkwardness was Karen Pence, who pointedly ignored both Trump and Melania during the funeral. When asked about it, Pence deflected, saying, “You’d have to ask my wife about her posture, but we’ve been married 44 years, and she loves her husband, and her husband respects her deeply.” In other words, he wasn’t about to explain her cold shoulder.
And let’s not overlook Pence’s sanctimonious stance on January 6th pardons. While Trump has vowed to pardon many of the protesters, Pence has been “literally praying” that Trump won’t. His moral posturing on this issue further isolates him from the Republican base, who overwhelmingly support Trump’s promise to correct the DOJ’s political witch hunt.
So, while that handshake may have looked like a step forward, don’t expect Trump’s base to forgive Pence anytime soon. And judging by Pence’s weak political moves, he may be praying for more than just Trump’s choices—he might be praying for relevance.