Pence: 'Trump showed that he is a big man' with debate apology

Indiana Gov. Mike Pence said his Christian faith calls him to remain loyal to Donald Trump even after the Manhattan billionaire spend the weekend apologizing for his graphic descriptions in 2005 of sexual assault.

“You know, it takes a big man to know when he is wrong and to admit it and to have the humility to apologize and be transparent and be vulnerable with people and Donald Trump showed that he is a big man,” Pence said at a campaign rally in North Carolina on Monday. “I’m a believer, and my faith informs me that we are to hold up a godly standard and we’re to aspire to live godly lives, but it also informs me we all fall short. We all fall short of the glory of God, and there’s no one righteous other than the one.”


The Republican vice presidential candidate said Trump “literally embodies the spirit of America,” calling him “strong” and “freedom loving” and “independent.” His statements of support for his running mate came after a weekend in which rumors swirled that Trump’s vulgar comments might prompt Pence to drop off the GOP ticket. Pence dismissed those rumors in interviews Monday morning and went on to call for forgiveness for Trump at his event later that afternoon.

“You know, as I said last weekend, I don’t condone what was said and I spoke out against it. But the other part of my faith is I believe in grace. I’ve received it. I believe in it. I believe in forgiveness, and we are called to forgive as we have been forgiven,” Pence said. “And last night, my running mate, he showed the American people what was in his heart. He showed humility to the American people, and then he fought back and turned the focus to the choice that we face, and I am proud to stand with Donald Trump.”