Karen Pence Ignores Donald Trump at Jimmy Carter’s Funeral, Sparkling Online Praise
SOURCE: MEGA
Karen Pence, wife of former Vice President Mike Pence, garnered attention and praise on social media Thursday for pointedly ignoring Donald Trump during a state funeral at Washington’s National Cathedral for former President Jimmy Carter.
The ceremony brought together former presidents and vice presidents, including Bill Clinton, Al Gore, George W. Bush, Barack Obama, Joe Biden, and Kamala Harris. Trump, attending as president-elect, was seen shaking hands with Gore before Pence stood to greet his former boss. Karen Pence, however, remained seated and stone-faced, declining to acknowledge Trump.
The gesture resonated with many online, including former Rep. Joe Walsh (R-IL), who wrote on X: “Good on Karen Pence. And the fact that this is the first time Mike Pence & Donald Trump have seen each other in four years is all on Trump. Trump tried to force Pence to defy the Constitution, and Trump almost had Pence killed.”
The X account for Republicans Against Trump echoed similar sentiments: “Karen Pence completely ignores the man who incited the mob that wanted to hang her husband. Good for her.” The tension between Trump and Pence dates back to the aftermath of the 2020 election when Trump falsely claimed it was “rigged” and pressured Pence to refuse certification of Joe Biden’s win.
Pence refused, writing to Congress, “It is my considered judgment that my oath to support and defend the Constitution constrains me from claiming unilateral authority to determine which electoral votes should be counted and which should not.” He added that such an action would be “entirely antithetical to” the Founding Fathers’ intent.
On January 6, 2021, Trump publicly criticized Pence on X, accusing him of lacking “the courage” to overturn the election results. Hours later, a mob of Trump supporters stormed the Capitol, with some erecting a gallows and chanting, “Hang Mike Pence!”
According to a Department of Justice filing, one of Trump’s aides informed him that Pence had been taken to a secure location, hoping Trump would act to ensure his vice president’s safety. Trump’s alleged response was chillingly dismissive: “So what?”
Months later, Trump defended the mob’s anger, telling ABC News’ Jonathan Karl, “The people were very angry. It’s common sense… How can you pass a fraudulent vote to Congress?”
Karen Pence’s decision to snub Trump at the funeral served as a symbolic moment, highlighting the lingering rift between the former vice president’s family and the president-elect.
