After spending four years at the White House, Former Vice President Mike Pence is joining the Heritage Foundation, one of the oldest and most influential conservative think tanks, as a distinguished visiting fellow.
“The Heritage Foundation is a flagship of the conservative movement and I am profoundly honored to join them as a distinguished visiting fellow to advance conservative policies that will benefit every American,” Pence said in a Tweet.
The @Heritage Foundation is a flagship of the conservative movement and I am profoundly honored to join them as a distinguished visiting fellow to advance conservative policies that will benefit every American. 🇺🇸 https://t.co/htnz7RE6nm
— Mike Pence (@Mike_Pence) February 4, 2021
“Heritage helped shape my conservative philosophy for decades and played a pivotal role in advancing conservative policies throughout the Trump administration,” he added.
“I look forward to rolling up my sleeves and working with the all-star team at Heritage as we continue to take the case for a strong national defense, free markets and traditional values to policy makers across the Nation & to every American who cherishes our Heritage of Freedom.”
I look forward to rolling up my sleeves and working with the all-star team at @Heritage as we continue to take the case for a strong national defense, free markets and traditional values to policy makers across the Nation & to every American who cherishes our Heritage of Freedom.
— Mike Pence (@Mike_Pence) February 4, 2021
Pence started a transition office on Tuesday, according to the Daily Caller, and said he is returning to his home state of Indiana in the summer
Heritage president Kay C. James said that “over the course of the past four years, our team at Heritage has worked closely with members of the Trump administration on a host of policy accomplishments.”
James highlighted that Pence’s “allegiance to the Constitution and commitment to advancing a conservative policy agenda make him an outstanding fit for the Heritage Foundation.”
Pence is not new to politics. The former vice president served a dozen years in the House representing Indiana before being elected the state’s governor. Then, in the summer of 2016, he joined the GOP presidential ticket.
According to Fox News, Pence is likely to run for the GOP presidential nomination in 2024, and joining Heritage gives him a visible platform among conservatives to do so.
Pence is not the first Trump administration official to join the foundation. Last week, three former Trump administration Homeland Security officials, including former acting Secretary Chad Wold, joined as fellows, Fox News reports.
