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Donald Trump impeachment: Why Mike Pence is a bad trade

SOME critics claim a Trump impeachment is what the US needs. Others point out a presidency under his conservative deputy could be far, far worse.

US President Donald Trump reportedly once joked his Vice President Mike Pence wants to hang gay people. Picture: Nicholas Kamm/AFP
US President Donald Trump reportedly once joked his Vice President Mike Pence wants to hang gay people. Picture: Nicholas Kamm/AFP

DONALD Trump can be alienating and divisive, even within his own party.

However, things in the White House could be a lot worse if he ever lost his powerful position and his deputy took over.

An explosive New Yorker article reveals how Vice President Mike Pence could further the conservatives’ agenda in Congress more than Mr Trump could.

Written by Jane Mayer, the article highlights how many Americans question whether Mr Pence would be a better president, but adds such a possibility isn’t without its own risks.

Long-time Democrat Harold Ickes is among those who hope Mr Trump actually stays in office for now.

According to him, Mr Trump makes a “better foil” while Mr Pence would work more effectively in Congress to advance the far right’s cause.

Mayer also lifts the lid on the relationship between Mr Trump and Mr Pence.

While the President reportedly thinks Pence is great, he also likes to “let him know who is boss”.

He also jokes about Mr Pence’s conservative religious views, asking other staff if “Mike has made them pray”.

Mayer’s article suggests Mr Trump even mocks his deputy over his views on gays and lesbians including once during a meeting with a legal scholar where abortion and gay rights were discussed.

The conservation soon turned to gay rights when the President indicated towards Mr Pence and said: “Don’t ask that guy — he wants to hang them all.”

Mr Pence has been against promoting LGBT rights and, according to Newsweek, supported conversion therapy for gay people.

Mike Pence denied last April that he was positioning himself to become the next US President. Picture: Brendan Smialowsk/AFP
Mike Pence denied last April that he was positioning himself to become the next US President. Picture: Brendan Smialowsk/AFP

CONSERVATIVE, CONTROLLED

The Vice President’s conservative views are well known.

In the 1990s, Mr Pence ran the Indiana Policy Review Foundation, which published an essay stating unmarried women should be denied access to contraception, the New Yorker reported.

The father-of-three is also an evangelical Christian who has described himself as “a Christian, a conservative and a Republican, in that order”.

During the election victory, he thanked God.

“I come to this moment deeply humbled and grateful to God for his amazing grace,” he said.

He is renowned for his “disciplined” demeanour and communication skills.

Mr Pence is also ambitious, with the Vice President in April forced to shut down rumours that he was positioning himself to dislodge Mr Trump.

Mr Pence said a New York Times article suggesting he and other top Republicans were running shadow campaigns to defeat Mr Trump in the next election was ridiculous. Mr Pence insisted he will work to see that the President gets re-elected in 2020.

Mr Pence’s conservative views are widely known. Picture: Carlos Giusti/AP
Mr Pence’s conservative views are widely known. Picture: Carlos Giusti/AP

‘PRESIDENCY IN PERIL’

The New Yorker insight comes as several Republicans express fears that losing control of the House could end his Presidency.

Several Republicans told CNN’s Sara Murray how the President’s feuds with his own party and shortage of legislative achievements was concerning for the party.

If Republicans lose control the House, Democrats could derail the conservatives’ agenda, effectively crippling it.

One Trump confidant spelled out to CNN exactly what this would mean.

“When Democrats take control of the House they will absolutely move for articles of impeachment,” the source said.

Just yesterday Mr Trump laid the blame on Republican legislators in the Senate for failing to deliver on his legislative agenda.

Mr Trump said he had “great relations” with many senators, but “they are not getting the job done.”

debra.killalea@news.com.au

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Original URL: https://www.news.com.au/finance/work/leaders/donald-trump-impeachment-why-mike-pence-is-a-bad-trade/news-story/5472119d624ec8c9a5a5c985b4138a49