Donald Trump Denies Questioning Mike Pence's Loyalty

The president says his VP is "100 percent loyal."

November 17, 2018

donald trump mike pence — Image via Getty/Mark Wallheiser
Getty

President Donald Trump is flatly denying a report saying he questioned Vice President Mike Pence's loyalty to his administration.

On a piece published Nov. 16, the New York Times reported that several aides and advisers in the White House had heard Trump openly question his second-in-command. Trump countered that story in front of a crowd of reporters at the White House before boarding a plane to California on Saturday.

"No, I don't question his loyalty at all. He is 100 percent loyal. It was a phony story," he said

"Mike Pence is 100 percent," Trump added. "Not even a doubt about it in my mind. He's been a trooper. He's been with me from as soon as I won the primaries. I could not be happier."

He also rebuked the report using his favorite medium.

Trump's remarks are in line with a statement released by the White House on Friday rebuking the Times' story.

"The president absolutely supports the vice president and thinks he's doing an incredible job helping to carry out the mission and policies of this administration," said Deputy White House Press Secretary Hogan Gidley.

While taking part in the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Papua New Guinea, Pence told reporters that the president called him to talk the story over. Trump reportedly told Pence that no anonymous sources "would say what that article said."

“The president and I are very close,” Pence said, according to NBC. “We have a very strong relationship. And I’ve been honored to serve as his vice president. And I was honored when he asked me to run with him again.”