Overview
- On Wednesday Pence told CNN he believes a growing 'populist right' threatens the Republican Party and urged a return to the conservative agenda that guided the party for decades.
- He defined the 'populist right' as favoring protectionism, isolationism, and moves that marginalize traditional values rather than limited government and free markets.
- Pence warned that broad tariffs raise input costs for farmers and that price controls and other interventionist policies could damage heartland voters' livelihoods.
- He criticized new administration voices for proposing greater federal participation in private business, including ideas to take an ownership share in firms, which he says breaks with GOP free-market principles.
- Promoting a new book and a string of TV appearances, Pence praised some actions of the second Trump administration but faulted its 'stops and starts' on Ukraine and noted concerns about voices questioning support for Israel as he seeks to shape GOP direction ahead of 2026 and 2028.