CNN  — 

After announcing his bid for the 2024 GOP presidential nomination on Wednesday, former Vice President Mike Pence answered questions from Iowa voters in a CNN Republican town hall hosted by Dana Bash. As the former Indiana governor officially enters a race that includes his ex-boss, former President Donald Trump, here’s how he responded to key issues.

Will he support Trump as the GOP nominee?

Former Vice President Mike Pence participates in a CNN Republican Presidential Town Hall moderated by CNN's Dana Bash at Grand View University in Des Moines, Iowa, on Wednesday, June 7, 2023.
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Hear Pence's answer when asked if he'd support Trump in 2024
03:23 - Source: CNN

Pence reiterated his pledge to support the 2024 GOP nominee. Asked whether that would include Trump, Pence said he didn’t think Trump would win the nomination.

‘I don’t know the facts’ of Trump’s case

trump mike pence split town hall
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Hear what Pence thinks about the DOJ target letter sent to Trump
04:32 - Source: CNN

With CNN reporting earlier today that the Justice Department informed Trump he is a target in the classified documents probe, Bash sought the former vice president’s reaction. Pence said a potential indictment of Trump would be divisive for the country.

Fact-check on abortion stance

Daniel Dale Mike Pence SPLIT June 7 2023
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'Just not true': Daniel Dale fact checks Pence's claim about abortion exceptions
01:39 - Source: CNN

CNN’s Daniel Dale fact checks Pence’s claim that he “always” stood by abortion ban exceptions in cases of rape, incest, or danger to life of the mother, finding that the former Indiana governor’s answer was “just not true.”

On the family separation policy

Former Vice President Mike Pence participates in a CNN Republican Presidential Town Hall moderated by CNN's Dana Bash at Grand View University in Des Moines, Iowa, on Wednesday, June 7, 2023.
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CNN fact-checks Pence's false claims about family separation and abortion exceptions
03:19 - Source: CNN

Dale analyzes Pence’s claim that the Trump administration’s brief but controversial family separation policy along the US border was started in the Obama administration.