Trump turns on ‘desperate and irrelevant’ ex-stablemate Pence

DONALD TRUMP yesterday accused Mike Pence of being “irrelevant” after his former vice-president looked set to endorse one of his arch-enemies in a key Senate race.

In the strongest sign yet of the growing distance between the two Republicans, Mr Pence offered his support for a candidate in Georgia who refused to back Mr Trump’s claim that the 2020 election was rigged.

Brian Kemp, the Georgia governor, who is seeking re-election, became the top target of Mr Trump’s vengeance campaign against state leaders who certified the election in favour of Joe Biden.

Mr Pence, 62, has criticised as “unamerican” Mr Trump’s plot to have Mr Kemp unilaterally overturn the vote.

Mr Trump has instead backed former senator David Perdue, one of his staunchest allies.

Mr Pence, who has reportedly not spoken to Mr Trump in over a year, appeared to be sounding out support among the GOP base ahead of a potential presidential bid that could pit him against his former political patron.

In a statement yesterday, Mr Trump’s spokesman described his former vicepresident as “desperate” and mocked him for trying to “chase his lost relevance”.

“Mike Pence was set to lose a governor’s race in 2016 before he was plucked up and his political career was salvaged,” Taylor Budowich told The New York Times.

“Desperate to chase his lost relevance, he is parachuting into races, hoping someone is paying attention.”

Mr Pence, who had been governor of Indiana and the No 3 House Republican during his time in Congress, was chosen for the ticket in a bid to appeal to religious conservatives within the party.

Mr Trump, 75, is the clear favourite for the Republican nomination and has proven in recent weeks to still be a kingmaker.

However, Mr Kemp was last night holding a commanding lead over Mr Perdue on the eve of polling, which would deal Mr Trump his biggest defeat of the primary season.