What Trump's First VP Mike Pence Has Been Up To Since Being Iced Out Of His Inner Circle

Serving as vice president during Donald Trump's first stint in the White House, Mike Pence found himself on the outs with the president after their time alongside each other. Much of this was catalyzed by the events of January 6, 2021, when Trump supporters broke into the Capitol and threatened violence against lawmakers attempting to certify the election. One such lawmaker was Pence, who refused to break protocol and make Trump president over the true winner, Joe Biden. Trump had some bold words for Pence in the wake of events, leaving Pence to navigate the rest of his political career on the outskirts of the MAGA movement. But Pence still has enough political clout to secure a prestigious new job.

In September of 2025, Pence joined the ranks of educators at the Schar School of Policy and Government, according to a release by George Mason University. Accepting the role of Distinguished Professor of Practice, Pence will hit the ground running and is slated to teach classes starting in 2026.

Pence's new role will see him hosting seminars that will include his nearly all-encompassing career experience. "His disciplined approach ... and his deeply rooted conservative philosophy provide a principled framework," Mark J. Rozell, dean of the Schar School, said about the new arrival. Of course, this isn't the only thing Pence has done since 2021, there's been other moments leading to this that have suggested the former vice president is ready to dole out words of wisdom.

While it's clear that the chilly relationship between Mike Pence and Donald Trump isn't resolving any time soon, it does seem that Pence has found a way to keep himself occupied. Now that he's secured the job as professor of practice, Pence can reflect on his storied career as a former member of the House, previous Governor of Indiana, and his stint as vice president. Of course, Pence has also been using his clout to hop on podcasts, take interviews, and even attempt to give advice to the current administration.

When Trump chose JD Vance to be his running mate during the 2024 presidential election, Pence had some cautious words of wisdom for Vance. This was followed by a May 2025 interview where Pence sat down with CNN's Kaitlan Collins to casually point out Trump's self-seeking ways and how they can impact policy as well as the people around him.

Pence's new gig comes at a time when several die-hard MAGA fans are leaving Trump in the dust and possibly looking for a different direction to take the conservative party. According to his statement to George Mason University, Pence is seeking to aid his students "not only for career success, but also for lives of service and integrity." An admirable pursuit for higher education and beyond.