(WASHINGTON, D.C.) — Vice President Mike Pence met with President Donald Trump on Tuesday, the first time since the two have spoken since violent pro-Trump supporters besieged the U.S. Capitol, calling to “hang Mike Pence” in an effort to stop ratifying the Electoral College vote.
The meeting lasted 90 minutes, per sources to ABC News, and was friendly in nature. The meeting focused on what they accomplished during their four years in office and the two reportedly discussed “the week ahead,” per White House officials briefed on the meeting. This week is their final full week in office.
This meeting comes as the House of Representatives continue to put pressure on Pence to invoke the 25th Amendment and remove the president from office. House Democrats, joined by some Republicans, say it is in the country’s best interest to remove President Trump from power to ensure he does not incite further violence, as he stands accused of for last week’s deadly riot on the Capitol.
Vice President Pence has not indicated whether or not he supports the movement, which is picking up more Republican allies — including House Republican Conference Chair Liz Cheney, who is the highest-ranking woman in the Republican Party.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell also privately acknowledged the president committed impeachable offenses, a source tells ABC News.
The House voted 223-205 — with one Republican on board — on H.Res. 21, which calls on Vice President Pence to exercise his power under the 25th Amendment to convene the Cabinet and remove President Trump from office.
The vice president has since issued a statement saying he will not support the amendment, which means Democrats will move forward on impeachment.
“Last week I did not yield to pressure to exert power beyond my constitutional authority to determine the outcome of the election, and I will not now yield to efforts in the House of Representatives to play political games at a time so serious in the life of our Nation,” Pence said in a letter Tuesday.
Democrats are charging President Trump with “inciting an insurrection.” So far, 218 Democrats and four Republicans say they will vote to impeach the president.
A vote is expected early as Wednesday and, when it passes, President Trump will be the first and only president in U.S. history to be impeached twice.
President Trump reacted to the developments on Tuesday when visiting the border wall in Alamo, Texas.
“The 25th Amendment is of zero risk to me, but will come back to haunt Joe Biden and the Biden administration,” said President Trump. “As the expression goes, ‘Be careful what you wish for.”‘