JD Vance ‘truly skeptical’ Mike Pence was ‘ever in danger’ during Capitol riot

Sen. JD Vance has questioned whether former Vice President Mike Pence’s life was really at risk during the ransacking of the Capitol by former President Donald Trump’s supporters on Jan. 6, 2021.

CNN anchor Kaitlan Collins pressed Vance (R-Ohio) Wednesday evening about whether or not he’d accept a hypothetical offer to be Trump’s running mate this time around, given that the 45th president declined to call Pence when his “life was in danger on Capitol Hill.”

“I’m extremely skeptical that Mike Pence’s life was ever in danger,” Vance responded. “In politics, people like to really exaggerate things from time to time. I know a lot of folks, in the Democratic Party—”

“I think Mike Pence would disagree with that,” Collins interjected.

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“A lot of folks, in the Democratic Party, Kaitlan, act as if January the 6th was the scariest moment of their lives,” Vance replied. “January 6th was a bad day. It was a riot.”

During the thick of the unrest, Pence was escorted to a loading dock underneath the Capitol complex, according to a Secret Service inspector.

Investigators claim that the mob got within about 40 feet of the vice president.

Vance also argued that it was “absurd” to suggest that Trump “endangered anyone’s lives when he told them to protest peacefully.”

In the run-up to the riot, Trump had publicly assailed Pence and demanded that he reject the certified electoral votes from key states.

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Pence refused to do so, saying he had no constitutional authority.

During the ransacking of the Capitol, chants of “hang Mike Pence” were heard.

A House select committee investigated Trump’s actions on that day and heard testimony that he was supportive of the backlash against his VP.

Pence, who unsuccessfully vied for the 2024 GOP nomination before dropping out last year, admonished his onetime boss.

“President Trump was wrong,” Pence said at the Gridiron Dinner last year. “I had no right to overturn the election. And his reckless words endangered my family and everyone at the Capitol that day, and I know history will hold Donald Trump accountable.”

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“Kaitlan did a few people say some bad things? Sure,” Vance said Wednesday night. “But do we blame Donald Trump for every bad thing that’s ever been said, by a participant in American democracy? I think that’s an absurd standard.”

The Buckeye State senator also did not rule out the possibility of serving as Trump’s running mate, but stressed “I haven’t talked to Donald Trump about becoming vice president.”

“I think it’s important to support President Trump, as Republicans, because I think he was a good president.”

A Pence spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment.