Mike Pence on Capitol riots: Donald Trump's words were reckless

Former U.S. Vice President Mike Pence has spoken about the events surrounding the attack on the U.S. Capitol on January 6th, 2021, and his communications with former U.S. President Donald Trump, leading up to, during and after that day.

In an exclusive interview with 'World News Tonight' anchor David Muir, he said he had made it very clear to Trump that he did not have the authority to overturn the result of the 2020 U.S. presidential election.

Trump had demanded that Pence do this based on claims of electoral fraud that were made without evidence.

However, at a rally on that day, Trump told supporters that Pence could make that decision. "Mike Pence is going to have to come through for us. And if he doesn't, that will be a sad day for our country," Trump said.

"The President's words were reckless and his actions were reckless. President's words that day at the rally endangered me and my family and everyone at the Capitol building," Pence replied when asked about Trump's statement.

Pence said that several times, his secret service detail tried to evacuate him from the Capitol, but he refused to leave.

Pence was also asked about a Tweet from former President Trump, sent at 2:24pm on January 6th, that said "Mike Pence didn't have the courage to do what should have been done."

He said the statement had "angered him", adding that he felt the President's words were "reckless".

"It was clear he decided to be part of the problem," he said.

Pence said Trump did not call him on January 6th, 2021 to check on his well-being, and that he did not hear from anyone in the White House, but that Democratic congressional leaders had reached out.

He also said he first spoke to Trump in the Oval Office, five days later, and said Trump had expressed remorse over the Capitol riot.

"At one point he simply said, with his voice much more faint than it had ever been said: 'What if we hadn't had the rally?'"

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He said that as Trump returned to the rhetoric he'd used before January 6th, telling his supporters that the former VP could have overturned the election and expressing support for the Capitol rioters, Pence decided that he needed to separate himself from Trump.

Pence was also asked if Trump should ever be president again. "I think that's up to the American people. But I think we'll have better choices in the future," he said.