former vice president Mike Pence sounded a warning about the direction the Republican Party is headed, citing growing internal divisions over its core identity.
According to the Daily Mail, Pence said in a recent television interview to promote his new book that he believed “the historic conservatism of the Republican Party faces new threats from the populist right.”
Pence said his motivation for writing “What Conservatives Believe: Rediscovering the Conservative Conscience” was to defend traditional conservative principles, which he believes are being challenged by new policy directions within the Republican Party.
Criticism of Trump-era policy direction
In comments targeting the president’s ideological shift Donald TrumpPence criticized what he said was the party’s embrace of “widespread tariffs, nationalization of businesses, [and] Price controls. “
He also suggested that Trump himself has moved away from the traditional conservative label, saying that Trump “says he’s not a conservative, he never really claims to be a conservative,” a claim that has been circulating in Republican political circles.
JD Vance comments
Pence also addressed the current Vice President JD Vancedescribing his ideological positioning as “less clear” than past Republican leadership.
The remarks drew attention from conservative media, and Vance was seen as a key figure in shaping the next phase of the party.
Pence warned that an emerging “populist right-wing agenda” could redefine the Republican Party in ways he said were damaging. “I think it’s bad for the Republican Party,” he said, adding that it would be “even worse for the country” if the party abandoned what he called a “vibrant, strong conservative party committed to liberal, free-market, traditional values.”
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“We have lost our way”
Pence further noted that the Republican Party is at a crossroads, saying, “In many ways, the Republican Party has lost its way. But the Democrats have lost their mind.”
He also expressed concerns about policy issues such as abortion drug access, criticizing the current administration for not taking stronger action to reverse Biden-era regulations.
The comments come as Pence continues to position himself as a champion of establishment conservatism, even as the Republican base remains largely aligned with Trump’s populist approach.
