Attendees at the National Rifle Association’s (NRA) annual convention in Indiana booed former Vice President Mike Pence on Friday as he took the stage to address gun rights.
“Well, hello NRA,” Pence said as attendees loudly booed the former VP in his home state.
Some people in the crowd also applauded Pence and one attendee shouted, “We love you, Mike!”
“I love you too,” Pence responded, prompting laughter from the audience.
Former President Donald Trump commented on Pence’s not-so-warm welcome later that same day at the NRA event.
“I hope you gave Pence a good warm approval,” Trump said.
“No, because he is a nice man if you want to really know the truth,” Trump added as the crowd booed once again. “He is. He’s a good man.”
After briefly defending Pence, Trump said he heard Pence had a “very rough” appearance at the annual meeting.
“It’s a big news story. You’ve made news today. I don’t know what you did, but you made news today with the introduction you gave,” Trump continued after noting that he is leading all potential GOP candidates in the 2024 presidential race, including Pence.
Last month, Pence told Fox News Digital that he thinks he has an advantage if he decides to launch a run for the White House.
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“I think the advantage that we have is I think the American people know the Pences,” he said. “By and large they know our story and our career, and some are getting to know it better every day. So, we think we have time to be discerning, to be reflective, to listen.”
Pence said he and his wife Karen “both believe that we’ll have a clear sense of our call this spring.”
Other Republicans who have thrown their hat in the ring include former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson, and entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy.
