During last night's Republican primary debate, entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy challenged former Vice President Mike Pence to pardon former President Donald Trump amidst his legal troubles should Pence secure the presidency in 2024.
During the debate, moderator and Fox News host Bret Baier asked candidates to raise their hand if they would support Trump should he secure the Republican nomination.
Entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy immediately shot his hand up while other candidates appeared hesitant to respond. Former South Carolina governor Nikki Haley and South Carolina Senator Tim Scott along with North Dakota governor Doug Burgum raised their hands shortly after. Florida governor Ron DeSantis looked over at the fellow candidates before raising his hand in response. Former Arkansas governor Asa Hutchinson did not raise his hand.
Former New Jersey governor Chris Christie appeared to raise his hand, though when questioned by Baier, the former New Jersey governor shook his head and gave a disapproving finger wag.
Later in the segment, Ramaswamy challenged fellow candidate Pence to pardon the former President should he secure the presidency.
"I'm the only candidate on this stage who had the courage to actually say it," Ramaswamy said of his expressed support for Trump amidst his legal troubles. "That is how we move our nation forward."
Pence responded by saying he wasn't sure if the former president would be convicted, to which Ramaswamy pressed the former vice president to commit to pardoning Trump.
"I've actually given pardons," Pence said, referencing his Indiana governorship between 2013 and 2017. "It usually follows a finding of guilt, and contrition by the individual that's been convicted."
"If I'm President of the United States, we'll give fair consideration to any pardon request."
Ramaswamy laughed at Pence's response.
To participate in the debate, candidates were required to earn at least 1% among a series of polls, 40,000 unique contributors to their presidential campaign committee, and have with at least 200 from 20 states and/or territories. Candidates were also required to sign three documents: a pledge to support the GOP’s eventual nominee, a data-sharing agreement with the RNC and a pledge to not participate in any debates not sanctioned by the RNC.
In a Sunday Truth Social post, Trump confirmed he would not attend the Republican primary debates, and instead released an interview with former Fox News host Tucker Carlson.
“The public knows who I am & what a successful Presidency I had, with Energy Independence, Strong Borders & Military, Biggest EVER Tax & Regulation Cuts, No Inflation, Strongest Economy in History, & much more,” Trump wrote. “I WILL THEREFORE NOT BE DOING THE DEBATES!”
As of Thursday afternoon, Trump's interview with Carlson has been viewed over 200 million times.
