Pence Addresses Political Divisions at Mackinac Policy Conference
Former VP Mike Pence praised Trump’s electoral success while discussing political unity at Michigan’s premier policy gathering.
MACKINAC ISLAND, MICHIGAN — Former Vice President Mike Pence addressed bridging America’s political divide and reflected on his relationship with President Donald Trump during a keynote address at the Mackinac Policy Conference on Wednesday.
Pence’s appearance at the annual gathering of Michigan’s business and political leaders was notable, as he has been largely exiled from his own party following his falling out with Trump over the 2020 election. The conference’s theme this year focuses on seeking common ground in an era of divided government and a deeply divided populace.
During his session moderated by Roop Raj of FOX-2 Detroit, Pence offered surprising praise for the president despite their fractured relationship. He characterized Trump’s elections in 2016 and 2024 as reflective of how Americans viewed Washington and whether it was listening to their most basic problems.
Praise for Trump’s Electoral Success
“For generations, the American people in the heartland and across the country were just tired of being told the future is not going to be as good as the past. They were tired of being told that our values are no longer acceptable,” Pence said. “I’m tired of being told, as Ronald Reagan said, that a little intellectual elite in a far distant capital can plan our lives better for us than we can plan them ourselves.”
Pence continued, stating that Trump’s 2016 victory and his return to the White House in 2024 “was emblematic of the desire of the American people to regain the helm of their own destiny.”
Conference Skepticism About Unity
While Pence was hailed at the conference as one of its old guard champions of bipartisanship, some attendees expressed skepticism to Michigan Advance about whether meaningful common ground still exists in American politics. The former vice president’s inclusion on the speaker roster reflects the conference’s goal of finding ways to bridge the nation’s growing political divisions.
However, Pence’s role in normalizing Trump and ushering him into power may make his message of unity difficult for some to accept, according to the Michigan Advance report.
Ongoing Political Exile
Pence’s appearance on Mackinac Island comes as he remains largely ostracized from Republican circles following his refusal to overturn the 2020 election results on January 6, 2021. His decision to fulfill his constitutional duties that day created an irreparable rift with Trump and many in the Republican base.
The Mackinac Policy Conference continues this week, bringing together political figures, business leaders, and policy experts to discuss challenges facing Michigan and the nation. The event has traditionally served as a forum for both parties to find areas of potential cooperation on key issues.
