Mike Pence tears into Donald Trump at 2024 campaign launch

Former US vice-president Mike Pence has offered his astir forceful repudiation of Donald Trump to day during a code launching his 2024 campaign.

The Republican accused Mr Trump of being unfaithful to the US constitution and of abandoning blimpish values.

The erstwhile Indiana politician and congressman formally commenced his White House run connected Wednesday.

The determination pits him against his two-time moving mate, who helium served nether successful the White House from 2017-21.

At a code successful Ankeny, Iowa, Mr Pence argued that Mr Trump had encouraged the mob that attacked the US Capitol connected 6 January 2021, and had incorrectly asserted that Mr Pence had the powerfulness to overturn the predetermination result.

"But the American radical merit to cognize that connected that day, President Trump besides demanded that I take betwixt him and the constitution," helium said.

"Now, voters volition beryllium faced with the aforesaid choice: I chose the constitution and I ever will."

He added that Mr Trump's actions connected 6 January should disqualify him from returning to power.

"I judge that anyone who puts themselves implicit the constitution should ne'er beryllium president of the United States," helium said.

"And anyone who asked idiosyncratic other to enactment them implicit the constitution should ne'er beryllium president of the United States again."

Mr Pence, 64, besides took shots astatine Democratic President Joe Biden arsenic well, arguing that neither helium nor Mr Trump are akin to mean Americans who cognize however to "treat each different with kindness and respect adjacent erstwhile we disagree".

Much of his code focused connected his disagreements with Mr Trump, but helium besides deed retired astatine different Republican 2024 rival, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis.

"Donald Trump and others who would question the presidency would locomotion distant from our accepted relation connected the satellite stage," helium said, hitting retired astatine Mr DeSantis for his caller remarks astir the warfare successful Ukraine.

In a aboriginal CNN municipality hall, helium continued attacking his rivals, critising Mr Trump for having antecedently called Russian President Vladimir Putin a "genius".

"I cognize the quality betwixt a genius and a warfare criminal, and I cognize who needs to triumph successful the warfare successful Ukraine," helium said.

But helium besides condemned prosecutors for investigating Mr Trump's alleged mishandling of classified documents aft leaving office, saying "indicting a erstwhile president successful the United States sends a unspeakable connection to the world".

Mr Pence was 1 of 8 Republican statesmanlike candidates who appeared astatine a fundraising lawsuit astatine the Iowa authorities fairground, known arsenic the Roast and Ride, past weekend.

He arrived connected a Harley Davidson on with different mates of 100 bikers who rode successful convoy, raising wealth for subject veterans. But that was not capable to provoke overmuch excitement astir his candidacy.

An energetic Ron DeSantis got the astir enthusiastic effect arsenic helium promised to "fight the woke" wherever helium finds it.

Mr Pence's speech, by comparison, was level and lacklustre, possibly demonstrating wherefore a erstwhile vice-president with nationwide sanction designation is trailing severely successful sentiment polls.

According to a Reuters-Ipsos survey released past month, Mr Pence is polling astatine 5%, compared to 44% for Mr Trump.

One erstwhile Trump voter, Todd Wilson, said helium felt Mr Pence "needs to beryllium a small spot stronger".

The candidate's humility was a plus, helium said, "but I deliberation if you're going to beryllium the president, you got to person to person a small spot of a bulldog successful you. So I'm looking for that retired of Pence."

The Republican tract for the 2024 information is progressively crowded.

On Tuesday, erstwhile New Jersey Governor Chris Christie launched a bid. On Wednesday, North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum besides announced that helium was entering the race.

Mr Pence was seen arsenic an unswervingly loyal lawman to Mr Trump done overmuch of their 4 years successful office.

But helium has distanced himself since the riot astatine the US Capitol.

Mr Trump pressured Mr Pence to overturn Joe Biden's predetermination triumph erstwhile helium presided implicit the certification of results successful Congress and admonished him for lacking "courage" erstwhile helium refused.

Some rioters were heard chanting "hang Mike Pence" arsenic they stormed the halls of Congress, and galore Trump loyalists presumption him arsenic a traitor.