Former Vice President Mike Pence on Wednesday (April 7) launched Advancing American Freedom, an organization that aims to blend traditional conservative ideas with the Trumpist MAGA movement. It will seek to defend the policies of the Trump and Pence administrations. The new organization has received praise from former President Trump.
“The advisory board of Advancing American Freedom includes many figures from the Trump White House era, such as Kellyanne Conway and White House economic adviser Larry Kudlow, Trump’s Office of Management and Budget director Russ Vought, and conservative figures. (Vought), joined by conservative figures such as former Wisconsin Gov. Scott-Walker (R) and former Ambassador to Israel David-Friedman.
“The Advancing America’s Freedom Project will build on the successes of the past four years, promoting traditional conservative values and advancing the successful policies of the Trump administration,” Pence’s office said in a statement.
“Conservatives will not stand idly by while the radical left and the new administration try to threaten America’s status as the greatest nation in the world with their destructive policies,” Pence said.
And the group has the backing of former President Donald Trump himself.
“This has been the most successful first term in American history,” Trump noted in a statement, “and it’s great to see Mike highlighting some of our accomplishments!”
U.S. media outlet The Washington Examiner noted that Pence has kept a low profile since leaving office. He has spent time with his family while developing a portfolio designed to maintain political influence. He joined the conservative Young America’s Foundation and served as a distinguished fellow at the Heritage Foundation. But now his aides say with the border crisis and the administration’s intention to raise taxes, it’s time for Pence to re-emerge in the public eye.
Pence’s first public speech will be at the Palmetto Family Council’s (PFC) annual fundraiser at the end of this month. And his advisers say Pence is well positioned to synthesize a new platform that blends traditional conservatism with the MAGA movement.
“There’s no question that when the vice president joined the ticket in 2016, he brought some entirely new voter bases to Donald Trump, focusing on China and trade, and he won a lot of blue-collar votes in the Midwest,” Pence’s advisers said.
“This organization will focus on policies that will win, policies that are at the center of the fusion between traditional conservatism and Trumpism,” the aide said.
The new organization will be headquartered in Washington, D.C., and its projects will revolve around three broad areas. These include.
U.S. strength and security, talking about immigration, Israel and Middle East peace and confronting international adversaries.
American prosperity, including rebuilding the economy, energy independence, government tax cuts and deregulation.
American freedom, including anti-abortion, school choice and religious freedom issues.
Paul Teller, a longtime Pence aide who served as the vice president’s director of strategic initiatives, will serve as executive director of his agency.
Conway, a senior adviser to the president in the Trump administration, said Pence is the ideal candidate for the job.
“I’ve worked with Mike Pence in an official capacity for 12 years, but I’ve known him for decades,” she said.” He has the heart of a giver and the mind of a policy wonk, and through this issue advocacy group wants to make sure the promise of America belongs to each and every one of us.”
Pence has previously been publicly denounced for opposing President Trump’s call for him to question the 2020 election results ahead of a joint meeting in January, but Trump’s endorsement of his new advocacy group suggests the two have a better relationship than has been reported. The Washington Examiner noted that a U.S. media source familiar with the matter previously revealed that Pence’s first grandchild was born earlier this month, after which the former president called to offer his congratulations.
Aides dismissed speculation that the advocacy group was a springboard for Pence’s presidential bid, saying next year’s midterm elections and setting a policy agenda are the focus.
“Right now, we’re in a period where the Biden administration has literally, in the space of two and a half months, abandoned the policies that brought prosperity over the last four years, and it’s time for him to re-emerge and be the voice of opposition to those policies,” Pence’s advisers said.
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