Former vice president Mike Pence shared a cryptic tweet espousing the merits of humility ahead of the January 6 Capitol riot anniversary.
“If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land,” Pence posted to X on Sunday afternoon.
No context was given for the biblical quote, lifted from the Old Testament’s Book of Chronicles. Based on the timing of Pence’s tweet, however, many in the comments assumed that it was related to the fourth anniversary of the Capitol Riots, Pence’s involvement in which saw him censured by the most ardent supporters of President-elect Donald Trump.
On January 6, 2021, Pence fulfilled the obligations of the vice presidency by certifying the election for Joe Biden, which led to warnings from Trump and serious threats from those who believed the election had been stolen. Speaking to protesters minutes before the attack occurred, Trump reiterated his claims of election fraud, and urged Pence to “come through for us.”
“Mike Pence is going to have to come through for us,” Trump told the crowd, “and if he doesn’t, that will be a, a sad day for our country because you’re sworn to uphold our Constitution.”
“Mike Pence, I hope you’re going to stand up for the good of our Constitution and for the good of our country. And if you’re not, I’m going to be very disappointed in you,” he later added.
As rioters attempted to overrun the Capitol building, the vice president was taken to a secure location. Some outside engaged in chants of “bring out Pence” and “hang Mike Pence,” footage of which was played during the House Select Committee hearings on the Capitol attack.
Pence, who currently teaches political science in Mercer County, Pennsylvania, later said that he was “proud” of his actions on January 6, and he has since distanced himself from his former running mate.
In March 2024, Pence said he could not “in good conscience” endorse Trump, telling Fox News that the then-presumptive Republican candidate was “pursuing and articulating an agenda that is at odds with the conservative agenda that we governed on during our four years.”
What to Know
The passage posted by Pence is taken from 2 Chronicles 7:14, which takes place following King Solomon’s construction of the First Temple in Jerusalem.
According to GotQuestions.org, a website specializing in biblical analysis, the passage and its surrounding verses are interpreted as a warning that should his followers let Israel fall into sin, this would be met with judgement and punishment from God. Pence excluded the first segment of the quote, which reads: “When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command the locust to devour the land, or send pestilence among my people… then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”
However, GotQuestions states that the verse has also been adopted as a “rallying cry for America,” and a call for the U.S. to honor its own covenant with God.
According to theology-focused website 1517.org, 2 Chronicles 7:14 was the most searched Bible verse following Trump’s election in 2016, and it has remained a popular choice since.
What People Are Saying
On Sunday, outgoing President Joe Biden praised the bravery of the Capitol police who attempted to quell the riots four years ago, adding that he hoped peaceful transfers of power will never be “taken for granted again.”
“We should be proud that our democracy withstood this assault. And we should be glad we will not see such a shameful attack again this year,” Biden wrote in an op-ed for the Washington Post, published Monday.
What Happens Next?
After taking office on January 20, Trump is expected to grant pardons to the hundreds of rioters convicted for their role in the Capitol attack, having promised to do so several times on the campaign trail.
The president-elect has also issued warnings to those who served on the House Select committee tasked with investigating the riots, telling NBC‘s Meet the Press in December that those who sat on the committee “should go to jail.”
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