A tense encounter between former political allies unfolded at the Washington National Cathedral during President Jimmy Carter's funeral service on Thursday.
According to Daily Mail, Karen Pence, wife of former Vice President Mike Pence, deliberately remained seated and refused to acknowledge President-elect Donald Trump and former First Lady Melania Trump during their arrival at the memorial service.
The public display of discord highlighted the ongoing rift between the Trump and Pence families following the Capitol riot. While Mike Pence exchanged a handshake with his former boss after Al Gore did the same, Karen Pence maintained her seated position and kept her gaze fixed forward throughout the interaction.
The tension between the families stems from Trump's pressure on Mike Pence to overturn Electoral College votes from swing states won by Joe Biden during the 2020 election certification.
When Pence refused to comply with Trump's demands, Trump's supporters targeted him during the Capitol riot, with some chanting "hang Mike Pence" and erecting makeshift gallows outside the building.
A Proud Boys informant revealed to the FBI that members of the group would have killed Pence if they had found him that day. Despite the imminent danger, Pence chose to remain at the Capitol, taking shelter in a secure garage-like location within the complex.
His counselor, Greg Jacob, later testified to the January 6 committee in 2022 about Pence's decision to stay, explaining the vice president's stance:
The vice president did not want to take any chance that the world would see the vice president of the United States fleeing the United States Capitol.
Since leaving office, Mike Pence has struggled to find his political footing. His presidential campaign, launched in June 2023, lasted only until October of the same year, failing to gain significant traction against Trump's dominant presence in the Republican primary race.
Trump, who remains the clear frontrunner for the 2024 Republican nomination, has chosen Ohio Senator J.D. Vance as his running mate, officially ending any possibility of a Trump-Pence reunion ticket. The former vice president has declined to endorse either Trump or Democratic nominee Kamala Harris.
Instead, Pence has focused his political action committee's efforts on promoting Republican candidates based on issues rather than personalities. On Monday, marking the fourth anniversary of January 6, he praised Vice President Harris for her role in certifying Trump's 2024 victory.
The public snub by Karen Pence represents a stark contrast to the working relationship she previously maintained with Melania Trump during their time in the White House. The two women had collaborated closely throughout Trump's first term, making the funeral interaction particularly noteworthy.
Mike Pence's recent statement commending Vice President Harris for presiding over the certification of an election she lost demonstrated his continued emphasis on institutional integrity over partisan loyalty. He also extended congratulations to Trump and Vance on their election victory, maintaining a diplomatic tone despite the personal and political divide.
The interaction at Carter's funeral service serves as a visible reminder of the lasting impact the January 6 events have had on Republican party dynamics. The deliberate snub by Karen Pence, coupled with the minimal acknowledgment between the former president and vice president, illustrates how the once-close political partnership has devolved into a relationship marked by tension and unresolved grievances.
