A member of the Trump family came to Columbus on Thursday, pledging his support to congressional candidate Greg Pence, older brother of the vice president, in their hometown.
It was an opportunity to say thanks, and to demonstrate how close the Trump and Pence families have become in the past two years, said Eric Trump, executive vice president of the Trump Organization, which runs President Donald Trump’s business interests.
Five days before the general election, Eric Trump — at 34, the president’s second-oldest son — spoke in an upstairs room at Zaharakos to about 60 team members and supporters of Columbus businessman Greg Pence, running for Indiana’s 6th congressional district against Democrat Jeannine Lee Lake and Libertarian Thomas Ferkinhoff.
Should Pence win, he would hold a seat in Congress that his brother, Vice President Mike Pence, held before being elected Indiana’s 50th governor.
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“We go around campaigning for a lot of people, and we say Greg is one we do not worry about. There’s no better family, no better person. This is one of the greatest families you’ll ever meet,” Trump said.
During the private meet-and-greet event, the Pence for Congress campaign dished out yard signs and stickers, and guests were able to dish up ice cream sundaes at the historic downtown Columbus ice cream parlor.
As Pence was introduced and entered the room to applause, he raised his hands higher and higher for his supporters to ratchet up their enthusiasm, which they gladly did.
Trump told the crowd that he felt divine intervention played a role in the Trump and Pence families coming together.
During the 2016 presidential election, had a piece of metal on a airport runway not caused a flat tire, requiring presidential candidate Donald Trump to stay in Indianapolis overnight, things might have turned out differently, Eric Trump said.
But then-candidate Trump had breakfast with Mike Pence and his wife Karen the next morning in the governor’s mansion, and the rest is history — starting with an offer for Mike Pence to join the presidential ticket, Eric Trump said.
“These two families are locked at the hip,” Trump said.
In a place like Washington, with so much hatred being shown, that close connection is needed, the president’s son said.
“Those two (President Trump and Vice President Pence) in Washington are winning. America is winning,” Trump said.
The son said the U.S. economy is strong, 401(K) portfolios are going through roof and the country has extremely low unemployment.
“We’re going to continue to win,” Trump said.
Greg Pence’s mother, Nancy Pence Fritsch, who was in attendance, said Eric Trump’s words about her sons and the Pence family were touching and meaningful.
“It brought tears to my eyes. It was very special to hear that. I admire the Trump family as much as he admires our family,” she said.
After the meet-and-greet, Pence explained that Eric Trump had reached out to him and asked how he could help.
“He said, ‘I’ll come to Columbus.’ I felt like that was a pretty good thing,” Pence said.
“I thought in the final days before the election I’d stop by and get somebody who we want to be there (in Congress),” Trump said afterward. “I think he’ll be a very powerful leader. His brother is an incredibly powerful leader; he’s been an incredible force in Washington, not just in title but in terms of effectiveness. He’s an incredible person and we need more Pences in Washington because they are the best of the best.”
Over the final few days before the election, Pence said he would be traveling around the district each day, visiting with county Republican party chairs and supporters.
Thursday’s meet-and-greet was one of about 300 events Pence said he has attended while campaigning. However, some critics have claimed Pence hasn’t been accessible to all voters because he hasn’t participated in debates and in more public events.
Following his introduction, Pence acknowledged that he’s been accused of running a submarine candidacy — staying below the surface and out of sight.
“My son John, who’s here today, flew in, reminded me that you cannot spell submarine without the word Marine in it,” Pence told the crowd, which responded with applause.
The congressional candidate said after the meet-and-greet that he has been getting out and meeting with the people, hitting the district all day long, including Lincoln Day dinners from spring to fall.
“Honestly, I’m reaching out to Republican voters. The whole idea is to get as many people out to vote this time. We really focused on people we thought would support us,” Pence said.
Alex Machavariani and his wife Arina attended the event. Alex said he worked with Greg Pence’s brother Ed at Cummins, and likes what the Pences stand for, such as family values, which he considers important in the country.
John Elwood, president of Elwood Staffing, said he considers himself patriotic and likes the fact that Pence served his country as a Marine.
“I have a lot of respect for people in the armed services, and he seems to stand for fiscal responsibility. I think that is important in politics and in policies written,” Elwood said.
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"We need more Pences in Washington because they are the best of the best."
— Eric Trump, son of President Donald Trump, on Greg Pence and the Pence family
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