Enlarge image
"I had no right to overturn the election": Former US Vice President Mike Pence defends himself against Donald Trump's criticism.
Photo: Manuel Balce Ceneta/AP
Former US Vice President Mike Pence on Friday sharply contradicted Donald Trump's claims that he - Pence - could have overturned the outcome of the 2020 election.
Pence said the former president was simply "wrong."
Speaking to the conservative Federalist Society in Florida, Pence addressed Trump's claims that he could have done something to prevent Joe Biden from taking office.
“I heard this week that President Trump said I had the right to overturn the election.
President Trump is wrong, I had no right to overturn the election," Pence said.
"Under the Constitution, I had no right to change the outcome of our election," the Republican continued.
And Vice President Kamala Harris will have no right to overturn the election result if the Republicans beat the Democrats in the 2024 presidential election.
Sharp criticism
The ex-vice president said he shared the "disappointment" felt by many party members at the last presidential election.
Nevertheless, the New York Times classifies Pence's statements as his sharpest criticism of Donald Trump to date.
Pence had refused to give in to Trump's pressure to prevent Congress from certifying the results of the November 3 presidential election.
Trump wanted to overturn Joe Biden's election victory at the last minute.
Pence had already declared at the time that his oath to protect the constitution would not allow him to do so.
Trump has therefore publicly addressed his former deputy several times.
He had distanced himself from Trump in the past.
However, it is the first time that he contradicts Trump with such clear words.
Is Pence running for the upcoming presidential election?
According to US media reports, Pence's distancing from his former boss could be related to a possible run for president in the 2024 election.
This could put Pence in direct competition with Donald Trump, who is also eyeing a comeback.
According to the New York Times, Pence had already described the storming of the Capitol as a "black day" in Washington.
Now he added, "I know we did our duty that day" and that the Republican Party should "focus on the future."
Otherwise, the United States is threatened with disintegration: "The truth is that there is more at stake than our party or our political fate," he said.
"If we lose faith in the constitution, we will not only lose elections, but also our country."
Vice Presidents only play ceremonial roles
Although legal experts from both party camps, according to the New York Times, rule out the possibility that a US Vice President could overturn a presidential election, Donald Trump repeatedly claims this – most recently last Sunday.
Vice Presidents play only a ceremonial role in officially confirming the results of the election in Congress.
Trump supporters stormed the congressional seat in Washington on January 6 to sabotage the certification of Biden's election victory.
Five people died as a result.
Trump had previously incited his supporters with his allegations of voter fraud.
col/AP/dpa