Mike Pence Once Called A Muslim Ban ‘Unconstitutional’

Vice President Mike Pence may support Trump’s immigration ban, but the former governor of Indiana was once critical of even the prospect of such a policy.

The Inquisitr previously reported that, despite Pence’s current position, his Twitter account confirms that he once believed that Trump’s “calls to ban Muslims from entering the U.S. are offensive and unconstitutional.”

Mike Pence, then the governor of Indiana, spoke to the press and upheld that stance.

“He told reporters the same day that ‘the United States cannot, and should not discriminate’ on the basis of religion as the ‘free exercise of religion is at the very heart of our constitutional guarantees for all persons in this country.'”

Mike Pence seems to have done a complete turnaround, now defending Trump’s immigration ban after having stood by the president’s side as an executive order was signed putting a 90-day pause on citizens of Syria, Iran, Sudan, Libya, Somalia, Yemen, and Iraq entering the United States. The ban triggered worldwide protests and criticism.

Someone printed out the Mike Pence tweet for the Battery Park #MuslimBan protest pic.twitter.com/WmZwzsXxJh

— Andrew Katz (@katz) January 29, 2017

While Trump claims that the immigration ban has nothing to do with religion, the only countries targeted in the ban are predominantly Muslim nations. Pence’s 2015 tweet came just a day after Donald Trump vowed to put a hold on Muslims entering the country as one of his campaign promises, a statement which is still on his website.

Mike Pence reversed his position on an immigration ban shortly after being named as Trump’s running mate in the 2016 presidential election.

According to the Huffington Post, Mike Pence spoke with Fox News host Sean Hannity just hours after the official announcement that he was Donald Trump’s vice presidential pick.

“I am very supportive of Donald Trump’s call to temporarily suspend immigration from countries where terrorist influence and impact represents a threat to the United States,” said Pence in the interview, contradicting his previous claim that a ban would be “offensive.”

Pence added that “we’ve got to find out what’s going on and we’ve got to do something different.”

“Donald Trump is right in calling for a temporary suspension [of refugees] from countries that have been compromised by terrorist influence. There’s no question it’s the right view.”

This is not the first time that Mike Pence has flip-flopped on an issue.

When tapes of Donald Trump’s now-infamous 2005 conversation with Billy Bush were released last October, Pence was horrified by the crass and misogynistic comments, according to the New York Daily News.

“As a husband and father, I was offended by the words and actions described by Donald Trump in the 11-year-old video released,” said Pence.

“I do not condone his remarks and cannot defend them.”

Pence was quick to distance himself from Trump’s vile remarks, but this attitude did not last long.

Think Progress reported Michelle Obama’s reaction to the Trump tapes. The former first lady said, “This was not just a lewd conversation, this wasn’t just locker room banter, this was a powerful individual speaking freely and openly about sexually predatory behavior.”

A day later, Mike Pence dismissed Michelle Obama’s concern over the offensive remarks made by Trump.

“I don’t understand the basis of her claim,” said Pence.

“What he’s made it clear is that was talk, regrettable talk on his part, but that there were no actions, and that he’s categorically denied these latest unsubstantiated allegations.”

Pence’s response to Michelle Obama is a far cry from his previous outrage at his running mate’s behavior and also shows just how far he will go to present a united front with Donald Trump.

Mike Pence seems reluctant to do anything but back up the president’s actions–even when they seem to contradict his own beliefs.

Pence defended Trump after the president went on a Twitter rant against the judge who put a temporary hold on enforcing his immigration ban. According to the Inquisitr, President Trump called the decision “ridiculous.”

“Trump bemoaned the decision, asking ‘what is this country coming to’ on Twitter, clearly disagreeing with the judge’s ability to halt the ban. Robart, however, acted well within his power in accordance with America’s system of checks and balances which prevents one branch of the government from overpowering another.”

While some Republicans, like Kentucky’s Mitch McConnell, said that Trump’s Twitter attacks at Robart were inappropriate, the New York Times reported that Mike Pence justified the president’s outrage.

“There’s simply no question under the Constitution, and frankly under federal law, that the president of the United States has the authority in the interest of national security to determine who has the right to come into this country,” said Pence, contradicting his previous assertion that an immigration ban is unconstitutional.

Whatever his true feelings may be, it is clear that Vice President Mike Pence and Governor Mike Pence are two very different politicians.

[Featured Image by Mark Wilson/Getty Images]