Emotional Mike Pence's voice cracks as he gives farewell speech in Indiana after skipping Trump's leaving ceremony and attending Joe Biden's inauguration following bitter split
An emotional Mike Pence gave a farewell speech on his return to his Indiana hometown on Wednesday after he broke with Donald Trump once more to attend President Biden's inauguration.
His voice breaking as he thanked his family for their support, Pence told a small crowd of supporters in Columbus that he would 'always be grateful' to Trump but also publicly congratulated Biden by name - something which Trump has never done.
Pence, whose refusal to throw out the election results in Congress wrecked his close alliance with Trump and was part of the sequence of events that led to the January 6 violence at the Capitol, did not attend Trump's leaving ceremony on Wednesday.
Instead, with Trump boycotting the inauguration, Pence played the more traditional role of applauding the new president and greeting his successor as VP, Kamala Harris.
'Back home again': Former vice president Mike Pence speaks alongside his wife Karen after landing in his hometown of Columbus, Indiana following the inauguration on Wednesday
Farewell: Pence spoke to supporters and said he was 'proud' to have worked on the Trump administration's pandemic response but also offered his congratulations to President Biden
Transfer of power: Pence, at the rear, watches Biden recite the oath with chief justice John Roberts on the steps of the Capitol on Wednesday, after Trump boycotted the inauguration
Moment of unity: Mike Pence and Kamala Harris spoke on the dais in the Capitol - something Trump refused to do with Biden
Harris and her husband Doug Emhoff escorted Pence and his wife Karen out of the Capitol after Biden's inauguration, a gesture usually performed by the incoming and outgoing presidents.
Pence then flew to Columbus, Indiana on a government plane, speaking to a small audience while flanked by the former second lady and his daughters Charlotte and Aubrey at a municipal airport.
The former VP's brother, congressman Greg Pence, was also at the farewell ceremony along with Indiana's lieutenant governor Suzanne Crouch.
Speaking from a lectern saying 'Back Home Again', Pence did not address speculation that he would run for president in 2024 but said that he would be returning to live in Indiana now that his term is over.
The former congressman and governor praised Trump for his economic policies and appointment of conservative judges, adding that he was 'proud' of the administration's response to the coronavirus pandemic.
'I will always be proud to have served in an administration that came alongside doctors and nurses and first responders and organized a whole-of-government response to federal, state and local level to meet this moment, Pence said.
Return: Pence is planning to live in the state where he previously served as governor - but after returning with his wife Karen (pictured) he did not address speculation about a 2024 run
Pence's voice broke as he thanked his family for their support during his term as vice president
'Serving as your vice president was the greatest honor of my life. But now that that season of service has come to an end, we just had to come home,' Pence said.
'As we come home, thank you for giving us the privilege of serving the United States of America as vice president.
'Today, we inaugurated a new president and a new vice president, and allow me to offer my congratulations to President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris.
'But let me also take a moment to say thank you to President Donald Trump and Melania for all they have done to make America great again.
'We'll always be grateful for the opportunity that they gave us to serve, the way they allowed us to make a difference in the life of this nation.'
Pence did not address the riot at the Capitol two weeks ago that tore apart his relationship with Trump and scarred the administration's legacy forever.
After four years as a loyal lieutenant, Pence came into Trump's firing line after announcing he would not use his role as president of the Senate to throw out Biden's election victory in Congress.
Having failed to persuade the courts or state legislators to defy the will of the voters, Trump had turned in desperation to Pence - claiming falsely that the VP had the power to reject electoral votes in the January 6 certification by Congress.
'If Mike Pence does the right thing we win the election,' Trump wrongly told his supporters shortly before they rampaged through the halls of the Capitol.
Pence, in his final moments as vice president, walks through the Capitol with his wife Karen as they arrived at the inauguration on Wednesday
While Trump boycotted the ceremony, Pence applauded when Biden embraced his family after taking the oath as America's 46th president
Pence speaks to former president George W. Bush during the inauguration ceremony
The Pences maintained tradition by walking down the steps of the Capitol with their successors, second gentleman Doug Emhoff (left) and vice president Kamala Harris
Some of the rioters were so enraged by Pence's refusal to comply that they threatened to hang him for failing to stay loyal to Trump.
After the hours-long assault that left America's place as a beacon of democracy in tatters, Pence finally brought down the gavel on the 2020 election and certified Biden's victory.
Pence allies were left outraged at how Trump had made his loyal deputy a scapegoat for his defeat.
The public split even led to demands that Pence should use the 25th Amendment to remove Trump from office in final days, but the VP rejected the Democratic bid.
House speaker Nancy Pelosi told CBS that Pence had refused to come to the phone when she and her Senate counterpart Chuck Schumer called to urge him to initiate 25th Amendment procedures.
Days later, Trump and Pence had a 'good conversation' in the Oval Office in an effort at detente, and Trump thanked Pence by name in his farewell speech in Washington.
But Pence chose not to be part of Trump's send-off, instead watching on the steps of the Capitol as Biden and Harris were sworn in at noon on Wednesday.
Pence, 61, was pictured speaking to his successor and other guests including George W. Bush before flying back to Indiana when the ceremonies were over.
On Tuesday evening, Pence sent a farewell tweet, including four pictures of his time in office – none including Trump.
The dramatic end to his term as VP has called into question whether Pence could run for president in 2024 since his credentials as a Trump loyalist are severely damaged.
Neither Trump nor Pence has said in public whether they intend to run in 2024, although Trump said cryptically on Wednesday that 'we will be back in some form'.
Trump still has a historic second impeachment trial looming over him which could theoretically lead to his disqualification from future office, although this would require significant Republican support.
Betting markets have Pence as one of the most likely GOP hopefuls, along with former UN ambassador Nikki Haley and Texas senator Ted Cruz.
Donald and Melania Trump departed Washington, D.C. Wednesday morning and landed in Palm Beach at the same moment Biden's inauguration ceremony kicked off. Pence was not present at the remarks where Trump thanked his No. 2
Pence presides over the January 6 joint session of Congress where his refusal to overturn Trump's election defeat ended any hopes of Trump staying in power by constitutional means - leading his supporters to attempt a violent insurrection instead
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