Former Vice President Mike Pence stated on Friday that he “welcomed” his interaction with Donald Trump, his former boss and running mate, during their first face-to-face meeting in four years at former President Jimmy Carter’s funeral. The service’s broadcast captured several memorable moments, including former President George W. Bush playfully tapping former President Barack Obama on the stomach and a notable conversation between Obama and Trump within earshot of Vice President Kamala Harris.
The event also drew attention to a handshake and brief exchange between Trump and Pence. This marked their first meeting and conversation since January 6, 2021, when thousands of Trump supporters stormed the Capitol, and Pence defied Trump’s demands by certifying Joe Biden’s 2020 presidential victory, according to the Washington Times.
“The opportunity to speak to the president yesterday is something that I appreciated, I welcomed,” Pence told Christianity Today Editor-in-Chief Russell Moore during a podcast that is scheduled to drop on Wednesday, the Times noted. “I’ve really been blessed at how much I’ve heard from people around the country who saw [our] handshake and, in that handshake, saw some hope that we might be moving past those difficult days,” he continued. “That’s certainly my hope.”
Karen Pence, meanwhile, drew criticism when she declined to shake hands with Melania Trump at the funeral. The incident occurred as the Trumps arrived at the Washington National Cathedral, their first major public appearance since Donald Trump’s victory in the 2024 presidential election. Instead of offering a handshake, Pence turned away without acknowledgment.
Melania Trump appeared to respond with poise, offering a polite smile despite the apparent snub. The former vice president stood, as did former Vice President Al Gore, and shook the president-elect’s hand, which he offered. The strained relationship between Trump and his former vice president has been a prominent political narrative since the 2020 election. What was once seen as a strong and collaborative partnership began to deteriorate over disagreements about the election’s aftermath and the events surrounding January 6, 2021.
Social media users wasted no time weighing in on the snub, with one tweeting, “People with no class, make classless moves,” while another wrote, “I would expect nothing less from a Pence.” The public sentiment was largely critical, depicting the former Second Lady as spiteful and resentful following Trump’s return to power, despite the fallout between their two husbands. Watch the video below.