Pence defends traditional conservatism

Former U.S. vice president Mike Pence gave a spirited defense of the conservative movement as he defines it at a National Press Club Headliners Dinner Monday evening, June 15. His appearance at the Club coincided with the publication of his new book, "What Conservatives Believe: Rediscovering the Conservative Conscience."

In opening remarks following an introduction by Club President Mark Schoeff, Jr., Pence named Barry Goldwater as his first inspiration for becoming a Republican. Pence was 5 years old at the time. Ronald Reagan followed, when Pence was in college.

He described two political dangers facing the U.S. today: what he calls the “socialist left” taking over the Democratic Party, and a “populist right” threatening the traditional conservative principles of the Republican Party. He defended the record of the Trump-Pence administration of 2016-2020, and noted that it and the current Trump administration “get it right” about issues including border control, the Department of Education and Iran. But he drew the line at tariffs, the nationalization of U.S. companies and the surrender of “right to life” decisions to the states, suggesting that the current administration “has stops and starts.”

The former vice president emphasized that Republicans need to rediscover conservative principles and resist what he called “the siren song of populism.” In light of the 250th anniversary of the U.S. this year, he called for a renewed conversation about “what we believe.”

Pence was then interviewed by Robert Costa, a national correspondent for "CBS Sunday Morning," who received the National Press Club's highest honor, the Fourth Estate Award, in 2025. Asked about the country’s founding values, Pence emphasized the inspirational value of the U.S. Constitution, and noted that “our rights come from God, not sovereigns. These are American ideas, not Republican ideas.”

Queried on tariffs, Pence pointed out that tariffs are not going over well in the heartland, and farmers are hurting. He sees Republicans winning on an agenda of lower taxes, less regulation and no price controls or nationalization of businesses.

Addressing the burgeoning public debt, he emphasized that this problem should not be passed on to succeeding generations. “The true consensus today is that we will do nothing about the federal debt,” he lamented, insisting that Republicans need “compassionate reform” to deal with it, including a harder look at entitlements.

On the issue of AI, Pence insisted that we should bring “our values to AI, for good.” He eschewed government guardrails but wants to see more transparency and human values in AI. When pressed about the possible need for regulation, Pence urged a national debate on the subject and the promotion of diversity of choice among AI creators.

Costa’s final question was about Pence’s plans for 2028. His reply was, “I rode that rocket as far as it could fly.” But he continues to promulgate traditional conservative principles through his Freedom Foundation. “I want to bring our party back to its beliefs,” he concluded.

The dinner was attended by 100 journalists and guests, including Pence’s wife of 41 years, Karen Pence.