Home

Pence calls to congratulate new VP Harris

Jeff Mason and Trevor HunnicuttAAP
Vice-President Mike Pence will attend the inauguration ceremony. President Donald Trump will not.
Camera IconVice-President Mike Pence will attend the inauguration ceremony. President Donald Trump will not.

US Vice-President Mike Pence has reached out to Vice-President-elect Kamala Harris, a source familiar with the situation says, marking the first contact at that level between the outgoing and incoming administrations.

Pence has increasingly taken on the public roles involved in government transition. President Donald Trump, despite pledging to work toward a smooth transfer of power, has not contacted President-elect Joe Biden or explicitly acknowledged that Biden won the November election.

Trump spent the weeks since the November 3 election questioning its integrity and claiming falsely that he won.

Pence certified Biden and Harris's electoral win in Congress last week after Trump supporters stormed the Capitol in attempt to stop the process. Pence faced strong pressure from the president to intervene in an attempt to throw the election Trump's way.

Get in front of tomorrow's news for FREE

Journalism for the curious Australian across politics, business, culture and opinion.

READ NOW

The vice-president has trips scheduled this weekend to say goodbye to troops.

Trump visited Texas on Tuesday to highlight his legacy on immigration and the US-Mexico border wall but has remained hunkered down otherwise at the White House in the wake of the pro-Trump riot.

Pence's call to Harris was the latest step by the vice-president to uphold some of the political norms that Trump has shattered.

"He called to congratulate and offer assistance," a source familiar with the situation said of Pence's outreach to Harris, who, along with Biden, will be inaugurated on January 20.

Pence plans to attend the inauguration ceremony on Wednesday. Trump does not. The president is expected to leave the White House that morning and fly to Florida.

Get the latest news from thewest.com.au in your inbox.

Sign up for our emails