Mike Pence could snub calls to oust Trump as Vice President’s religious fanaticism exposed

Joe Biden confirmed as next President by Mike Pence

Vice President Mike Pence has been implored to evoke the 25th Amendment of the US Constitution and remove President Donald Trump after shocking violence erupted in Washington. Pro-Trump protesters stormed the Capitol building yesterday to disrupt Congress’ certification of President-elect Joe Biden’s poll win. Demonstrators ran riot across the building and forced congressmen and congresswomen to hide in secure bunkers, following Mr Trump’s refusal to concede his election loss.

Unlike the President, Mr Pence has condemned the protesters and said: “You did not win. Violence never wins.”

Mr Trump has now promised an orderly transition of power but still refuses to accept that he lost the election, meaning fears of further protests persist.

Calls for Congress to deem the President “unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office” through the 25th Amendment have resurfaced, too.

The clause shows there are two possible routes for removing a President who is unwilling to step down, listed in the US Constitution.

One states the Vice-President may join with a Cabinet majority to send a written declaration to Congress denouncing the President’s ability to serve.

Vice President Mike Pence may reject calls for him to oust Donald Trump

Vice President Mike Pence may reject calls for him to oust Donald Trump (Image: Getty)

Pence announces Biden as the official election victor

Pence announces Biden as the official election victor today (Image: BBC)

The alternative suggests Mr Pence could do the same but with a majority of “such other body as Congress may by law provide” rather than the Cabinet.

Both houses could then decide by a two-thirds majority to replace Mr Trump with Mr Pence.

Many reports subsequently indicated that the time between his election loss and Mr Biden’s Inauguration Day on January 20 was the time to have the Amendment ready — especially as the President began to incite violence with his tweets.

Yet, journalist McKay Coppins questioned whether devout Christian Mr Pence would be likely to ever push his superior out of power.

He explained: “It’s easy to see how Pence could put so much faith in the possibilities of divine intervention.

“The very fact that he is standing behind a lectern bearing the vice-presidential seal is, one could argue, a loaves-and-fishes level miracle.”

READ MORE: Trump may trigger Republican ‘civil war’ to mirror Labour’s break down

Mike Pence is a devout Christian and has been dedicated to Trump throughout the presidency

Mike Pence is a devout Christian and has been dedicated to Trump throughout the presidency (Image: Express)

Trump said, he might not 'like Pence as much' if he did not

Trump said, he might not ‘like Pence as much’ if he did not “come through” (Image: BBC)

Mr Trump lifted Mr Pence out of his role as a small-state governor who stood little chance of reelection.

The Republican candidate offered “salvation to both Pence and the religious right” when he asked him to be his running mate.

Mr Coppins said: “In Pence, Trump has found an obedient deputy whose willingness to suffer indignity and humiliation at the pleasure of the President appears boundless.”

The Vice President is often the first figure to reassure the public over Mr Trump’s inflammatory words, such as when he described white nationalists as “very fine people”, and Mr Pence said the President was still a decent man.

Mr Pence’s refusal to condemn any of Mr Trump’s actions can be traced back to his religion, according to the commentator.

The Vice President’s friend, Ralph Reed, told Mr Coppins: “If you’re Mike Pence and you believe what he believes, you know God had a plan.”

DON’T MISS
Biden ‘may have been good for Brexit’ — until Johnson broke law [INSIGHT]
Kamala Harris close to Vice Presidency after activist paved her way [EXPLAINED]
Biden warning as small nations ‘should hold breath’ for Democrat win [EXPOSED]

President-elect Joe Biden and outgoing Vice-President Mike Pence

President-elect Joe Biden and outgoing Vice-President Mike Pence (Image: Getty)

Pence and Trump in a moment of prayer

Pence and Trump in a moment of prayer (Image: Getty)

But his deference to Mr Trump was also dubbed “worshipful” by Mr Coppins, writing in The Atlantic in 2018.

Mr Pence was willing to defend him no matter what, and insiders claimed that he felt no friction between his dedication to Mr Trump and his Christianity.

Instead, he reportedly believes in “servant leadership”, which stems from Gospel scripture.

He follows a particular Bible teaching, where Jesus says: “Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant and whoever wants to be first must be your slave.”

But, as one of Mr Pence’s former fraternity brother’s Dan Murphy asked: “Is Mike’s religiosity a way of justifying that ambition to himself?”

Mr Pence was allegedly considering a campaign coup after Mr Trump’s shocking comments about grabbing a woman by the genitals made headlines around the world in 2016.

Protesters storming the Capitol building in favour of restoring Trump as President

Protesters storming the Capitol building in favour of restoring Trump as President (Image: Getty)

Pence has been a loyal follower of Trump over the last four years

Pence has been a loyal follower of Trump over the last four years (Image: Getty)

He even told the Republican National Committee that he was willing to replace Mr Trump as the Republican nominee — just four weeks before the presidential election.

His announcement followed the international dismay triggered by Mr Trump’s comments regarding grabbing a woman by the genitals, which reportedly left his running mate equally appalled.

Yet, Mr Trump refused to drop out back then, too, and Mr Pence was elected as his right-hand man.

It’s also worth noting that just three days ago, Mr Pence said he welcomed senators’ bid to derail Mr Biden’s election win, in line with Mr Trump’s refusal to concede — even as other Republicans have continued to drop any association with the outgoing President.

But Mr Pence has already overridden Mr Trump in one aspect in just the last 24 hours, showing a potential detour from his deference over the last four years.

The Vice President allegedly approved the order to deploy the National Guard, sending in 1,100 troops to dispel the armed rioters in the Capitol who were calling the election “fraudulent”, after Mr Trump reportedly resisted taking such a measure.

A senior GOP Senate aide also told Mr Coppins: “It’s not a matter of what Republicans are ready to turn on Trump.

“It’s about when they decide they’re ready for President Pence.”

source: express.co.uk