Former Vice President Mike Pence recounted a January 14, 2021 meeting with then-President Trump during an appearance at the Economic Club of Washington, D.C. Pence said that as he rose to leave he told Trump he was praying for him, only to hear the reply “Don’t bother.” He later made clear to Trump that they would never agree on January 6 and that he would never stop praying for him. The anecdote was shared while Pence discussed his new book on conservative values and originally appeared in his 2022 memoir.

The exchange underscores the deep personal and political rift that followed Pence’s decision to certify the 2020 election results despite intense pressure from Trump. By revisiting the moment years later, Pence is highlighting both the lasting disagreement over January 6 and his continued personal stance of prayer. The remarks leave open questions about whether any future reconciliation is possible and how the episode continues to shape conservative politics. For now Pence is presenting the story as a fixed point of principle on both faith and the events of that day.