Mike Pence Calls Out Former Boss Trump For Skipping Next Week's GOP Primary Debate

2024 GOP presidential hopeful Mike Pence on Monday called out his former boss Donald Trump over the latter’s decision to skip next week’s Republican primary debate in California.

Trump will instead reportedly host a rally with striking autoworkers in Detroit, seizing on an opportunity to gather further support for his presidential bid.

But Pence told CBS News the former president’s intention to stay out of yet another primary debate is a “missed opportunity” for him to show Republicans his policy priorities.

“I think it’s a missed opportunity for Donald Trump and I think it’s a missed opportunity for Republican voters,” Pence told CBS’s Robert Costa. “Look, this country is in a lot of trouble. Joe Biden has weakened America at home and abroad and I think the former president, just like all the rest of us vying for the Republican nomination, owe it to the American people to express what our agenda will be for turning this country around.”

The former vice president said Trump isn’t committed to pushing a conservative agenda this time around, pointing to some of his recent comments that strict abortion bans are a losing strategy.