Mike Pence slams NYT report on alleged 2020 presidential ambitions

US Vice President Mike Pence slammed a New York Times report that claimed he might be preparing to replace Trump in the 2020 presidential race. Pence called the article “categorically false,” promising not to let “fake news” divide the White House.

On Friday, the New York Times published a report claiming some fellow Republicans could be pondering 2020 presidential bids if the incumbent, President Donald Trump, decides not to run. The report listed several “shadow candidates,” including the vice president, who allegedly indicated his ambitions by creating the ‘Great America Committee’ to raise funds, while “multiple advisers” reportedly “intimated to party donors that he would plan to run if Mr. Trump did not.”

The article also listed a number of other Republicans who could be positioning themselves to run in 2020.

“The allegations in this article are categorically false and represent just the latest attempt by the media to divide this administration,” Pence said in a statement published on Sunday. 

While lauding Trump’s success in fighting Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS/ISISL), rebuilding the military, and creating jobs, Pence said that he “could not be more honored to be working side by side with a president who is making America great again.”

He also pledged to make every effort to see Trump re-elected in 2020, despite “fake news” stories.