Former governing partners Donald Trump and Mike Pence have spoken twice since the inauguration last month, CNN reported late Monday.
A source familiar with the former president and vice president’s relationship described ties between the two men to CNN as “amicable.”
While it was unclear what was discussed on the pair of calls, the source told CNN that each of the men initiated one of the two calls.
An earlier CNN report indicated that, per advisers, Trump had not expressed regret for imperiling the former vice president as a mob stormed the Capitol last month. House impeachment managers had alleged that members of the pro-Trump mob on Jan. 6 had chanted the refrain “Hang Mike Pence,” as Trump tweeted an attack of the second-in-command.
The beginning of the former leaders’ potential reconciliation, follows a report that former President Donald Trump is gearing up to meet with potential primary candidates to challenge Republicans who have crossed him as early as March and that he will deliver a speech at the Conservative Political Action Conference.
The source said that people were hesitant to risk Trump’s “wrath,” adding that it was unclear how Trump’s speech which is expected to address both the Republican Party and the future of the conservative movement is “going to play out,” after it lands on Sunday.
The source pointed at a lot of “circling in and out” by the former president’s political team as a potential problem but noted that Jason Miller, Bill Stepien, Justin Clark and Brad Parscale would likely press a narrative going into CPAC that Trump remains “the kingmaker.”
According to CNN, Pence declined an invitation to speak at the conference. The same source said that the reason Pence turned down an invitation to the conference was due to tradition.
“It’s tradition the outgoing pres and VP stay quiet, and the incoming president deserves that courtesy,” the source told CNN.
The CNN source suggested that Pence will likely become active in the gubernatorial cycle by summer, and has close ties with Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey who heads up the Republican Governors Association.
