Mike Pence teased that he would make a decision on seeking the Republican nomination for president in 2024 this spring.
Pence, who served as former President Donald Trump’s vice president from 2016 to 2020, said he believes he would meet all the requirements for debates if he does seek higher office next year, but he did not lock in whether he would seek the nomination.
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“We’re listening, we’re reflecting, we’re talking to firms,” Pence told NBC News. “By the spring, our family expects to have a very clear sense of our calling.”
Pence also slammed Trump, claiming there would be “better choices than my old running mate come 2024.”
The timing of Pence’s announcement could be affected by a subpoena from Jack Smith, the Department of Justice’s special counsel investigating the Jan. 6 riot by Trump supporters at the Capitol.
Smith has asked a federal judge to compel Pence to testify about the unlawful attack on the Capitol, which attempted to stop the certification of the results of the 2020 presidential election.
Pence has refused to testify in front of a grand jury, claiming he believed it would be “unconstitutional” to testify against Trump since he served in the former president’s administration.
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Pence’s comments come as other prominent Republicans come out of the woodwork to announce their candidacy for the nomination. Three Republicans have announced so far, including Trump, former U.N. Ambassador and South Carolina GOP Gov. Nikki Haley, and tech billionaire Vivek Ramaswamy. However, Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL), Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC), and former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo are also possible contenders.
