During Chicago Speech, Pence Says America Moving In Wrong Direction

CHICAGO — Former Vice President Mike Pence may be eyeing another run at the White House, but used a stop in Chicago on Monday to suggest that if things don’t change soon under President Joe Biden’s leadership, a change in leadership may be the only thing that can steer the country back in the right direction.

Pence has been in the spotlight of late as the committee investigating the Jan. 6 riots at the U.S. Capitol heard testimony about how former President Donald Trump attempted to persuade Pence to reject or delay the certification of votes that made Biden’s presidency official.

Pence has taken criticism from Trump for not acting with courage in rejecting the election results. However, while Pence has not made any official announcement about whether he would seek the presidency in 2024, he said in a speech Monday that Biden’s leadership has not been effective.

“The vast majority of Americans know our nation is on the wrong track,” Pence said during his 40-minute speech at the University Club of Chicago. “But I have every confidence that unless this administration changes course, and their allies in Congress change course dramatically, the American people are going to change leadership and change leadership very soon.”

The former Indiana governor suggested that Biden is at fault for the rising cost of gas, groceries, and other goods, as well as the shortage of baby food and rising rent costs. But he also used the occasion to not only take several shots at Biden but also at Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker, saying he is at fault for job loss in Illinois with companies such as Caterpillar and Boeing leaving the state.

He said that it breaks his heart to see the two major companies move their corporate headquarters out of Illinois and also said when he was governor in Indiana, Illinois made for “easy pickings” when it came to battling for jobs.

Pritzker, in response, took to Twitter and referred to Pence as a “dangerous, homophobic extremist.”

He added, “(Pence) represents a party that for decades has sought to take us backward and strip fundamental rights from millions of Americans. Today’s GOP has no vision of America — their only goal is to divide us.”

As far as solutions to national problems, Pence said he would choose to extend Trump-Pence tax cuts and vowed to end what he referred to as “runaway inflation," he would require the federal government to operate under a balanced budget, and he would slash federal spending.

The former vice president has also attempted to shift the attention off of what happened on Jan. 6 and wanted to focus on improving the economy —which he said can’t happen under Biden’s watch.

“That confidence and pride that were once synonymous with the American people in recent years has been replaced with fear and a national anxiety,” Pence said in the speech. “So let me say, to quote the old book, ‘Fear is useless.’ What is needed is leadership grounded in American values.”