Now-former Vice President Mike Pence flew to his hometown Columbus, Ind., Wednesday after attending President Joe Biden’s inauguration.
Supporters greeted the former Indiana governor and his family when they landed at the Columbus Municipal Airport this afternoon just before 3 p.m.
Pence spoke to the crowd - thanking God, his family, the Indiana Republican Party, and former President Donald Trump for the opportunity to serve as vice president.
"Serving as your vice president was the greatest honor of my life" he said. "But now that that season of service has come to an end, we just had to come home."
Others from Indiana were also on the inaugural platform as Chief Justice John Roberts, who grew up in the northwestern Indiana town of Long Beach, administered the oath of office to Biden. Other guests included former Vice President Dan Quayle, a former Indiana senator who now lives in Arizona, and former South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg, whom Biden has nominated to become transportation secretary.
Pence touted Trump for he steps he took to strengthen the nation’s military and economy while also appointing conservative judges. He recalled those who have died of COVID-19, but also credited Trump’s response to the pandemic.
“I will always be proud to have served in an administration that came alongside doctors and nurses and first responders and organized a whole of government response, at the federal, state, and local level, to meet this moment,” Pence said. “To place us at a time where we’ve arrived at the beginning of the end of this pandemic. I believe the day will come soon when we put the coronavirus in the past and heal our land.”
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He also congratulated Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris on assuming their positions Wednesday.
Pence added that he’s promised his wife Karen Pence – the 45th second lady - they would move back to Indiana this summer.
This post has been updated. The Associated Press contributed to this story.