Mike Pence Watches J.D. Vance Take Oath as Donald Trump’s New Right-Hand Man 4 Years After Jan. 6 Fallout

January 21, 2025 Duy191098 Blog 0

The former and current vice president to Trump found themselves under the same roof on Monday, Jan. 20

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Rachel Raposas is a Digital News Writer at PEOPLE. She has been working at PEOPLE since 2024.

Published on January 20, 2025 12:19PM EST

Former vice president Mike Pence; JD Vance is sworn in as vice president
Mike Pence attends the swearing-in ceremony for J.D. Vance and Donald Trump on Jan. 20, 2025. Photo: Ricky Carioti/The Washington Post/Getty; AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson

Mike Pence watched his replacement, J.D. Vance, take the oath of office at the U.S. Capitol on Monday, Jan. 20, eight years after standing in the same position.

Pence, who served as the vice president during Donald Trump‘s first term, attended the swearing-in ceremony without his wife, former second lady Karen Pence, watching a new right-hand man assume his former office.

Former US Vice President Mike Pence arrives for the inauguration ceremony before Donald Trump is sworn in as the 47th US President in the US Capitol Rotunda in Washington, DC, on January 20, 2025.
Mike Pence at the inauguration ceremony for Donald Trump and J.D. Vance on Jan. 20, 2025. SAUL LOEB/POOL/AFP via Getty

Pence fell from Trump’s good graces near the end of his first term in office. Following his loss in the 2020 election to former President Joe Biden, Trump did not concede and denied the election results — which, as vice president and the president of the Senate, was Pence’s duty to certify.

Against Trump’s wishes, Pence refused to overturn the results on Jan. 6, 2021, stating that he didn’t have the authority to so. Following a rally in Washington, D.C. that day — which included chants of “hang Mike Pence” — the deadly Capitol riot commenced in an attempt to forcibly stop the certification of the election.

J.D. Vance is sworn in as U.S. Vice President during the Inauguration of Donald J. Trump in the U.S. Capitol Rotunda on January 20, 2025 in Washington, DC. Donald Trump takes office for his second term as the 47th president of the United States.
Vice President J.D. Vance takes the oath of office on Jan. 20, 2025. Kevin Lamarque – Pool/Getty

There remains no evidence that the 2020 election was fraudulent or “stolen.” Pence later attended Biden’s inauguration — which is customary for outgoing and former presidents and vice presidents — while Trump skipped the event.

Already alienated from his former ally, Pence announced his campaign for president in 2023. He challenged Trump for the Republican nomination but was unsuccessful.

President-elect Donald Trump greets former U.S. Vice President Mike Pence as he arrives with Melania Trump as former U.S. Vice President Al Gore looks on during the state funeral for former U.S. President Jimmy Carter at Washington National Cathedral on January 09, 2025 in Washington, DC.
Mike Pence and Donald Trump shake hands at Jimmy Carter’s funeral on Jan. 9, 2025. Chip Somodevilla/Getty

Trump and Pence had their first interaction in four years at former President Jimmy Carter’s funeral on Jan. 9, which was uneventful and polite, Pence shared.

Vance was named Trump’s running mate on July 15, 2024, during the Republican National Convention. Before seeking the role of vice president, Vance was a senator from Ohio in his first term.

Prior to becoming Trump’s running mate, Vance made strong comments against Trump — calling the president “America’s Hitler” and an “idiot,” and calling himself a “never-Trump guy.”