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WASHINGTON (AP) — A political group, spending close to $1 million, is actively campaigning against Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a choice supported by Donald Trump to lead the nation’s health agencies. The group is rallying for the president to maintain strong ties with traditional foreign allies and is lobbying Congress, while team members draft letters and opinion pieces.

This past weekend, he shared an article he wrote over ten years ago regarding the limitations of presidential authority after Trump asserted that “He who saves his country does not violate any law.”

Mike Pence is becoming one of the few Republicans in Washington willing to publicly express dissent against the new administration.

This position is particularly striking for the former vice president, whose adherence to Trump characterized their administration until their rift over Trump’s refusal to accept the 2020 election results and his attempts to cling to power.

Pence and his team at Advancing American Freedom, his political advocacy organization, emphasize their aim is not to adopt a “Never Trump” stance. They plan to commend the administration when it aligns with their views, while raising objections when it diverges, all while advocating for traditional conservative values that have waned as Trump’s brand of populism prevails.

“We aim to provide a balanced perspective,” Pence remarked to The Associated Press.

Pence opposed Kennedy, who has since been appointed as secretary of health and human services, based on Kennedy’s prior comments supporting abortion rights. Now, his organization is lobbying against Lori Chavez-DeRemer, Trump’s nominee for labor secretary, accusing her of supporting pro-union policies. They are also advocating for increased military funding, reducing the deficit, making the 2017 tax cuts permanent, and urging Trump to reconsider the imposition of tariffs on allies.

The Associated Press recently interviewed Pence about his initiatives and his relationship with Trump, including a notable handshake at President Jimmy Carter’s funeral and his wife’s reaction as the former and current presidents interacted.

Q: What do you envision as your role and that of AAF in the coming years?

Pence: “To be a steadfast anchor… I encountered that expression in a Herman Melville book long ago.”

“The prevailing direction is towards more government intervention. It’s the role of conservatives to serve as an anchor, ensuring we remain grounded and hold fast to the foundational principles that shaped my career in this movement.”

“Values such as a strong defense, U.S. leadership in the free world, limited government, fiscal prudence, the right to life, and traditional values drew me to the Republican Party, which embodies the enduring ideals of Lincoln. I aim to leverage whatever influence I have, even as a former official, to champion those principles.”

Q: How are you selecting your causes?

Pence: “For me, principles take precedence. This isn’t about personal agendas. At the inauguration last month, I was genuinely touched by the warm remarks and gratitude from former colleagues, including numerous members of the new administration I encountered. I even embraced Secretary of State (Marco) Rubio, expressing pride in his achievements.”

“At the Carter funeral, I had a polite exchange with the president. As he passed by, we shared greetings, and I complimented both him and Melania. People who know me understand it’s not personal; I have forgiven the president for our previous disagreements. Despite our differences regarding his perspectives on my constitutional authority, I have continuously prayed for him.”

“To answer your query, we want to embrace integrity in our principles. I find the Trump administration has made a solid start… I appreciate the administration’s reversal of Biden’s border strategies, reinstating effective policies we had established to manage immigration. Regarding RFK’s nomination, it centers around the right to life; I viewed the selection of an abortion rights advocate as a significant shift from 50 years of staunch pro-life leadership in HHS under Republican leadership. Thus, we deemed it necessary to voice our stance, receiving considerable but muted encouragement from others.”

Q: Quiet encouragement?

Pence: “Indeed, we received considerable quiet support from individuals who, for various reasons, were hesitant to raise their voices alongside us. I believed it was vital to highlight that viewpoint. Our commitment to this cause will continue.”

Q: Why do many Republicans hesitate to speak out openly?

Pence: “I prefer not to speculate on motivations. I am familiar with the landscape and have faced challenges before.”

“You must be prepared to step up and lead. My aspiration is that following this conflict, the Senate will assert its will, and the president will secure his choice for HHS. I hope the next time a life issue arises, individuals will feel emboldened to voice their opinions, knowing they are not alone.”

Q: Is there support within the party for a shift back toward your desired direction, contrasting the dominant populist, MAGA faction?

Pence: “You’re hitting the nail on the head. I see that some prominent figures in the party have adopted a more populist mindset; however, I don’t believe the vast majority of Republican voters have altered their views compared to our tenure, which adhered to a conservative agenda.”

“For instance, during a town hall in Iowa while campaigning for president, a farmer told me he agreed with everything I said, including the need for strong U.S. support for Israel, leadership globally, backing Ukraine, and advocating limited government. But when I asked for his vote, he declined, saying he would back Trump this time but would support me in four years, expressing concern about Biden’s performance and ‘lawfare’. His feelings about the Trump situation resonated with many.”

“Throughout my travels, I didn’t observe a Republican Party embracing expansive government nor retracting from international commitments or undermining the right to life. I believe other circumstances offered Trump’s campaign significant advantages, and although he secured the nomination, I do not see fundamental changes within the party.”

Q: Could you recount your wife’s response regarding the Trumps at the funeral?

(At the funeral, former second lady Karen Pence notably did not acknowledge or shake hands with the then-president-elect or Melania Trump, an event that gained significant attention online.)

Pence: “My wife is devoted to her husband, and I hold her in high esteem. I have been touched by the many people nationwide who have expressed their gratitude to us for that encounter.”

“Nonetheless, I wish to emphasize that we are looking forward. I genuinely believed that the president would eventually reassess his perspective on the events of January 6. If you read the conclusion of my book, you’d find that we parted amicably. However, when I observed him revert to the claims about my alleged constitutional authority, I felt it imperative we pursue separate paths. Yet hope remains, and we seek to provide constructive support for the conservative agenda, benefiting the administration, Congress, and ultimately, America.”

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