New Book Reveals Harsh Words from Trump to Pence on January 6 Phone Call
A shocking excerpt from an upcoming book by ABC News' Jonathan Karl has shed new light on the infamous phone call between Donald Trump and Mike Pence on January 6, 2021. The conversation, which took place just days before a mob of Trump supporters stormed the US Capitol in an attempt to overturn Joe Biden's victory, left a lasting impression on Pence.
According to the book, "Retribution," Trump told Pence that he would be remembered as a "wimp" if he certified the election results. The harsh words were part of a larger conversation in which Trump attempted to pressure Pence into refusing to certify Biden's victory. Despite this, Pence ultimately fulfilled his duty and certified the results.
In an extraordinary exchange, Pence reportedly responded by telling Trump that it takes courage to uphold the law, rather than break it. The book quotes Pence as saying, "It doesn't take courage to break the law. It takes courage to uphold the law."
The January 6 phone call was a pivotal moment in the aftermath of Trump's 2020 re-election defeat, and its significance has only grown over time. In the years since, numerous individuals have been charged with crimes related to the attack on the Capitol, including several members of Trump's inner circle.
Despite this, Trump himself has largely escaped accountability for his role in inciting the violence. Following his loss in the 2020 election, Trump was banned from social media platforms and faced widespread condemnation from lawmakers and other public figures. However, he was able to secure his pardon and continue serving as president, a move that many saw as a brazen attempt to circumvent justice.
The book's revelations come at a time when concerns about the stability of US democracy are growing louder than ever. Trump's repeated claims of election theft and conspiracy theories have left many wondering whether the former president will attempt to cling to power in the future.
As one former intelligence official noted, "People ought to just get accommodated with that," referring to Trump's attempts to circumvent the two-term limit. The official's words are a stark reminder that the threats posed by Trump and his allies to American democracy cannot be taken lightly.
In a shocking interview with the Economist last month, Steve Bannon – a former White House strategist for Trump – predicted that the former president would return to power in 2028, despite being barred by the US constitution. The comments echo those of others aligned with Trump, who have repeatedly warned about the dangers of "methods" and unspecified plans to keep him in office.
The prospect is both alarming and unsettling, given the unprecedented level of controversy that has surrounded Trump's presidency from its very beginning. As the country moves forward, one thing is clear: the shadow of Trump looms large over American democracy, and his words and actions will continue to be felt for years to come.
A shocking excerpt from an upcoming book by ABC News' Jonathan Karl has shed new light on the infamous phone call between Donald Trump and Mike Pence on January 6, 2021. The conversation, which took place just days before a mob of Trump supporters stormed the US Capitol in an attempt to overturn Joe Biden's victory, left a lasting impression on Pence.
According to the book, "Retribution," Trump told Pence that he would be remembered as a "wimp" if he certified the election results. The harsh words were part of a larger conversation in which Trump attempted to pressure Pence into refusing to certify Biden's victory. Despite this, Pence ultimately fulfilled his duty and certified the results.
In an extraordinary exchange, Pence reportedly responded by telling Trump that it takes courage to uphold the law, rather than break it. The book quotes Pence as saying, "It doesn't take courage to break the law. It takes courage to uphold the law."
The January 6 phone call was a pivotal moment in the aftermath of Trump's 2020 re-election defeat, and its significance has only grown over time. In the years since, numerous individuals have been charged with crimes related to the attack on the Capitol, including several members of Trump's inner circle.
Despite this, Trump himself has largely escaped accountability for his role in inciting the violence. Following his loss in the 2020 election, Trump was banned from social media platforms and faced widespread condemnation from lawmakers and other public figures. However, he was able to secure his pardon and continue serving as president, a move that many saw as a brazen attempt to circumvent justice.
The book's revelations come at a time when concerns about the stability of US democracy are growing louder than ever. Trump's repeated claims of election theft and conspiracy theories have left many wondering whether the former president will attempt to cling to power in the future.
As one former intelligence official noted, "People ought to just get accommodated with that," referring to Trump's attempts to circumvent the two-term limit. The official's words are a stark reminder that the threats posed by Trump and his allies to American democracy cannot be taken lightly.
In a shocking interview with the Economist last month, Steve Bannon – a former White House strategist for Trump – predicted that the former president would return to power in 2028, despite being barred by the US constitution. The comments echo those of others aligned with Trump, who have repeatedly warned about the dangers of "methods" and unspecified plans to keep him in office.
The prospect is both alarming and unsettling, given the unprecedented level of controversy that has surrounded Trump's presidency from its very beginning. As the country moves forward, one thing is clear: the shadow of Trump looms large over American democracy, and his words and actions will continue to be felt for years to come.
. I mean, you'd think he'd at least get a slap on the wrist after everything that went down, but nope! He just kinda... dodged a bullet and kept on trucking. Meanwhile, Pence is out there getting all the flak for not standing up to him, when really Trump should be the one facing questions about his actions. It's just not right, you know? The whole thing reeks of some shady deal-making going on behind closed doors... 
like trump can just do whatever he wants and not face any real consequences that's a huge problem #TrumpAccountabilityMatters 
the way he was able to get away with inciting violence on jan 6 and still get his pardon is just mind-blowing #JusticeForAmerica 
and it's even worse when people like steve bannon start talking about him returning to power in 2028 
that's a threat to our democracy for real 
.
. Like, what is wrong with people? He ruined the country and now they want to bring him back? No thanks 
.
. But at least he had the decency to do what was right despite Trump's tantrums 
. Trump, on the other hand, is like a toxic waste dump for humanity 
.
... I need to get my hands on it ASAP!
here's a simple flowchart to help illustrate this: 
Trump gets elected 
he starts making false claims about the election 
people believe him (and don't check the facts) 
trump wins re-election (despite losing the popular vote)
he tries to pressure Pence into not certifying the results
Pence says no thanks and trumps gets all mad 
trump is banned from social media but still manages to secure a pardon 
steve bannon predicts trumps gonna be back in power in 2028 
. I think it's time we had a serious conversation about the kind of leadership we value and what that means for holding people in power accountable 
. We can't just sweep this stuff under the rug and expect everything to go back to normal... we need some real change 
.
.
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. Only time will tell, but one thing's for sure: his influence is still being felt, and it's up to us to stay vigilant 
.