By Alexandra Ulmer

(Reuters) -In a harsh reprimand of his ex boss Mike Pence, former U.S. vice president said Friday that Donald Trump had wrongly believed Pence could reverse the result of the 2020 election. Trump falsely claims Pence stole the vote.

Trump, a Republican in a desperate bid to remain in office, pressured Pence on Jan. 6th 2021 to prevent congressional approval of the results. Pence was a faithful lieutenant throughout the turbulent four years of Trump’s presidency. He chose not to stop certification.

Trump has disparaged Pence over the years. On Sunday, he issued another statement claiming that Pence could have “overturned the election”.

Pence stated that President Trump was wrong in his speech at the Federalist Society in Lake Buena Vista. “I did not have the right to change the outcome of this election.”

The presidency is the American people’s and only the American people’s. Pence said that there was no more anti-American idea than the belief that one individual could elect the American president.

Pence’s remarks were his strongest criticism yet of Trump. Trump’s spokesperson didn’t immediately reply to my request for comment.

“I can understand many people’s disappointment at the election. Pence stated that he was present on the ballot. No matter what the future may bring, I am certain that we fulfilled our duties on this day. John Quincy Adams reminds of us: Results are God’s, Duty is Ours,” Pence continued. He was quoting a U.S. president from the 19th century.

There’s much more than the party and political fortunes at stake. Pence stated, Men and Women: If we lose faith, not just in elections, but our country, it will be lost.”

‘DARK DAY’

Pence presided at the certification. However, Trump supporters stormed Capitol in an unsuccessful bid to stop certification. From the chaos, Pence fled with U.S. senators.

Pence described Jan. 6, in his Friday speech, as a “dark” day.

His comments stand in contrast to the Republican Party, which on Friday censured https://www.reuters.com/world/us/loyal-trump-republican-party-moves-censure-us-reps-cheney-kinzinger-2022-02-04 Republican U.S. Representatives Liz Cheney (left) and Adam Kinzinger (right) joined the House of Representatives select panel investigating Jan. 6’s attack. The party claimed that the Democrat led inquiry was persecuting ordinary citizens engaging in legitimate political discourse.

Republicans aligned with Trump have made the false election claims a key part of their campaigns https://www.reuters.com/world/us/georgia-governors-race-tests-trumps-stolen-election-claims-2021-12-20 heading into the November 2022 midterm elections in which the party is seeking to win back control of Congress from the Democrats. According to Reuters/Ipsos polls 55% believe the 2020 election has been stolen.

Trump has maintained a strong hold on the party’s affairs even though he was out of office for more that one year. Trump hinted at his potential run to be president again in 2024. At a rally in Texas on Saturday, he said that if he were to win in 2024, he would pardon people charged with criminal offenses https://www.reuters.com/world/us/trump-says-he-would-pardon-jan-6-rioters-if-he-runs-wins-2022-01-30 in connection with the Jan. 6 riot.

Trump made false accusations that the election had been stolen by widespread voter fraud in a speech just moments before the attack on Jan. 6. Trump called on Pence “to do the right things” to block the certification of the election results and urged his supporters “to stop the theft.”

Trump stated to his supporters that all Vice President Pence had to do was send it back home to the states for recertifying and then he would be president.

Some of the Capitol’s rioters shouted “Hang Mike Penne” later and others set up an informal gallows.

Olivia Troye is a former National Security Adviser to Pence and has been a Trump critic. She said that this was the first time her ex boss had publicly stated Trump’s wrong.

Troye posted the following tweet (NYSE:): “It is a start.”