May 31, 2026, 2:14 p.m. ET
Former Vice President Mike Pence accused the Trump administration of drifting further from traditional conservative principles and embracing a populist right movement that espouses big government, protectionism and isolationism on the world stage.
During an interview May 31 on NBC’s “Meet the Press,” Pence argued that the second Trump administration is increasingly losing its way, and risks “moving in the progressive direction” if it continues to embrace populist policies.
“In so many ways I think (Trump) – you know, he represents, in some measure, what the populist right is about,” Pence told host Kristen Welker. “But the populist right is attempting to take the president’s departure from the conservative agenda, whether it be on tariffs, whether it be with regard to Ukraine and Eastern Europe, whether it be in regard to life, and try to make that the new foundational philosophy of the Republican Party.”
Pence, who served as Trump’s vice president during his first administration from 2017 to 2021, was on the show to promote his new book, “What Conservatives Believe.”
MAGA voters and the populist right
The former vice president gave Trump credit for galvanizing the Republican base and maintaining broad loyalty within the party. However, he argued that some of the administration’s policies don’t reflect the president’s Make America Great Again brand.
“I believe that the overwhelming majority of people in the MAGA movement believe that America’s the leader of the free world, believe in limited government, less taxes, less regulations, would reject ideas like nationalization of businesses and price controls and broad-based tariffs,” Pence said.
He also credited Trump with holding the line on several key issues, including securing the border, extending the tax policy imposed during his first administration, and continuing to support Israel.
But he claimed that the party’s move away from policies that have defined the GOP since the days of Ronald Reagan – American leadership, limited government, free market economics, the right to life – are “lesser-known.”
“When you see an administration with broad-based tariffs, nationalizing American businesses, questioning and pulling back from our – from our allies as they endure the brutal assault in Eastern Europe from Russia, I think that – I think Republicans would do well to take some time to reflect on what we believe again, and take that message to the American people,” Pence said.
He also took aim at Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., describing him as “pro-abortion.” Pence, alongside Trump, oversaw Supreme Court appointments that effectively reversed Roe v. Wade, ending federal protections for the right to an abortion.
Kennedy, Pence said, “has done nothing to limit the availability of the abortion pill on a mail order basis that Joe Biden made possible across the country.”
GOP wins in November
Asked whether Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, who recently ousted Sen. John Cornyn in the Texas Senate primaries despite being dogged by controversies for years, has the necessary character to represent GOP values, Pence instead turned to criticizing the left.
He didn’t project that any big Republican wins in November would be based on the strength of the candidates, but rather a rejection of the Democratic platform.
“Look, I think in many respects Republicans have lost our way. But Democrats have lost their mind,” Pence said. “And I think the reason why we’re going to hold the Senate, and we have a real shot to hold the House, is because of the extremism on the Democratic side.”
If, however, Republican candidates get back to running on platforms informed by “freedom,” “limited government” and “traditional values,” then the “fault lines” that are forming within the party could be mended, Pence argued.
“I think if Republicans this fall and in 2028 hold up those time-honored conservative principles, those voters will rally to our cause,” Pence said.
Compensation for Jan. 6 rioters ‘deeply offensive,’ Pence says
Welker also asked Pence what he thinks of the Trump administration’s recently announced $1.8 billion “anti-weaponization fund,” which would ostensibly be used to compensate people who believe they have been wronged by the federal government.
Most notably, those people could potentially include anyone who faced legal issues for participating in the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the Capitol building, when large crowds infamously called for the hanging of Pence.
“I think that the weaponization fund, it’s a bad idea from the start. And I would encourage the administration just to drop it,” Pence said. “I mean, it’s deeply offensive to me that you could have a fund that could even possibly compensate people who assaulted police officers or vandalized the Capitol on January 6th. And I think that’s broadly held by most Republicans and most Americans.”
The fund, which was part of a settlement the Trump family reached with the IRS regarding the release of the president’s tax returns, is currently held up in court.
Drew Pittock covers national trending news for USA TODAY. He can be reached at DPittock@usatodayco.com.
