‘Unacceptable!’ Pence Seethes Over Trump Calling Jan. 6 Rioters ‘Hostages’ in Heated Comments on CBS

Former Vice President Mike Pence seethed over former President Donald Trump calling imprisoned Jan. 6 rioters “hostages” at a rally on Saturday.

In an interview on Face the Nation Sunday, CBS’ Margaret Brennan played a clip of Trump lauding the rioters as “unbelievable patriots” and denouncing their imprisonment.

“You see this spirit from the hostages?” Trump said Saturday at a rally in Ohio. “And that’s what they are os hostages. They’ve been treated terribly and very unfairly, and you know that, and everybody knows that. And we’re going to be working on that soon. The first day we get into office, we’re going to save our country, and we’re going to work with the people to treat those unbelievable patriots. And they were unbelievable patriots.”

Pence — who, on Friday, announced he will not endorse Trump’s 2024 candidacy — sounded off on the president he served under for four years.

“I think it’s very unfortunate at a time that there are American hostages being held in Gaza,” Pence said. “That the president or any other leaders would refer to people that are moving through our justice system as hostages. And it’s just unacceptable!”

The former vice president added, “The assaults on police officers, ultimately an environment that claimed lives, is something that I think was tragic. And I’ll never diminish it.”

Brennan questioned Pence about whether Trump’s own case relating to the Capitol riot should proceed in a timely fashion

“I wonder what you think about Mr. Trump and whether the public needs to hear and see some of the evidence in regard to the federal charges related to his alleged role in January 6th,” Brennan said. “Do you think that needs to happen before Election Day?”

Pence, despite his harsh criticism of Trump’s actions on Jan. 6, demurred.

“At the end of the day, I think the American people know what happened on that day,” Pence said. “And I’ve said, the people that ransacked the Capitol need to be held to the fullest account of the law. And I believe that they are. But the judgment about the president’s efforts that day, I think, can be left to the American people.”
Watch above, via CBS.