Pence Urges GOP Caution on ‘Unprincipled Populism’

(Bloomberg) -- Former Vice President Mike Pence sounded alarm about the growing populist strain gaining influence within the Republican party, urging the GOP to hold steadfast to its traditional values of small government and a robust national defense.

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Pence spoke at the Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank, on Wednesday morning, weeks before the Nov. 8 midterm elections that will determine control of Congress.

His remarks come a day after House GOP leader Kevin McCarthy said that Republicans are prepared to pull back on US aid to Ukraine next year if they gain control of the chamber, reflecting a growing populist sentiment for the country to be less involved abroad.

“Our movement cannot forsake the foundational commitment that we have to security, to limited government, to liberty and to life,” Pence said. “But nor can we allow our movement to be led astray by the siren song of unprincipled populism that’s unmoored from our oldest traditions and most cherished values.”

Pence has been traveling the US ahead of a potential 2024 presidential run, campaigning for candidates in midterm election races, delivering policy speeches and raising money for his advocacy group Advancing American Freedom.

In his speech he also seemed to reject calls from some Republicans to stop military aid for Ukraine to repel Russian President Vladimir Putin’s invasion, and he took a veiled shot at his former boss ex-President Donald Trump for calling Putin’s strategy before the invasion “pretty smart, “genius” and “very savvy.”

“As Russia continues its unconscionable war of aggression to Ukraine, I believe that conservatives must make it clear that Putin must stop and Putin will pay,” Pence said. “There can be no room in the conservative movement for apologists for Putin. There is only room in this movement for champions of freedom.”

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