In a diplomatically phrased but sharp interview with CNN’s Kaitlan Collins on May 5, 2025, former Vice President Mike Pence gave a rare glimpse into his tense relationship with former President Donald Trump. What started as a conversation about present political dynamics soon developed into a subdued but telling rebuke of Trump’s ongoing pursuit of the limelight. Pence, with his own reserve and old-school conservatism, never raised his voice but made his stance obvious.
A Diplomatic Swipe at Trump’s Showmanship
The questioning took a tense turn when Collins inquired about a high-drama meeting that took place recently between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Trump, and sitting Vice President JD Vance. Pence’s answer was subtle but telling: “I’ve been in a lot of heated meetings in the Oval Office,” he said, “just typically not on camera.
To the ordinary viewer, it might sound like a throwaway line, but to those who have watched the subtle power struggles of Washington, it rang loud and clear. Pence was referencing Trump’s habit of making government into theatre, broadcasting high-stakes diplomacy like primetime TV. Trump has frequently justified this media-driven strategy as a means of transparency. But for Pence, who represents the more subdued style of leadership, this public bravado seems less about openness and more about individual theatre.
A History of Divergence in Values
This was not the first time Pence has separated himself from Trump’s actions. Throughout the interview, he mildly criticized Trump’s appointment of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as Secretary of Health and Human Services, a contentious choice given Kennedy’s past with vaccine disinformation. Although Pence did not directly criticize Kennedy, his criticism of the appointment underscored a larger disagreement with Trump’s erratic personnel decisions.
But perhaps the most personally resonant moment was when Pence spoke of Trump’s pardon of those implicated in the January 6 riot. “I was really dismayed to see President Trump pardon individuals who did engage in acts of violence,” Pence said. For Pence, a personal target on that day of riots, this was not merely a political disagreement, it was personal.
Pence’s Strategy: Subtle, Strategic, and Noteworthy
In contrast to the bombast of Trump’s style of communication, Pence has repeatedly opted for restraint. He does not have to scream to be heard. His disapproval was expressed not in angry rhetoric, but in balanced commentary and painstakingly selected words. It’s an effort most likely designed to shore up his own style of principled conservativism and insert a clear space between himself and the previous president.
With the GOP itself still struggling to find itself in a post-Trump world, voices such as Pence’s offer an alternative route, one advocating for privacy, dignity, and institutional deference. Though he might not be causing controversy on Twitter, his subdued dissatisfaction might appeal to traditional Republican voters who want something more than the show.
Final Thoughts
As the 2024 election cycle carries over into 2025, Pence’s most recent interview is not an aside, it’s a symptom of a deeper division in the conservative movement. While Trump still dominates headlines and airwaves, Pence’s style presents an alternative vision: one founded in discipline, not theatrics.
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