Former Vice President of the United States, Mike Pence, spoke at the Cambridge Union yesterday afternoon (18/11) as part of an event lasting a little over an hour. During much of the event, protesters gathered outside, chanting and playing music.

The event began shortly after the planned time of 4pm, with hundreds of students having queued for hours outside for a chance to see Pence speak. Many of these students had to be turned away, with a packed Union chamber reaching capacity before the event began.

Meanwhile, protesters met at the rear entrance of the Union and proceeded to march to the front of the Round Church.

Speeches were given by Gender Agenda and protest organisers, attacking Pence’s record of anti-LGBTQIA+, anti-abortion and pro-Israel politics. Protesters further accused Pence of having a “fascist ideology”.

A spokesperson for the protesters commented that “since summer 2024 the Union has sustained a record of inviting far-right men to speak,” listing Peter Thiel and Charlie Kirk as notable examples of this.

The spokesperson argued that “the Union purports to support freedom of speech but platforms those who affect marginalized communities”.

Pence was first elected as a Representative for the US state of Indiana in 2000, a post he held until his election as the state’s governor in 2013. His most prominent role, however, was as Vice President during the first administration of Donald Trump, from 2017 to 2021.

As the event started, protestors relocated to the back of the Union building, from where their chants would remain audible throughout much of the duration of Pence’s talk.

Pence initially addressed the chamber in a short speech, in which he discussed the relationship between the UK and USA, saying that “the USA recognises that Britain is America’s friend,” before warning against a rise in American isolationism, which he said would not “make the world safer or more prosperous”.

Continuing to discuss foreign policy, Pence defended the record of the first Trump administration, saying that it had “won a great victory for freedom,” and suggesting that Biden’s withdrawal from Afghanistan was to blame for the “brutal and unprovoked invasion of Ukraine”.

Much of the rest of Pence’s speech centred on the importance of faith to his worldview. Pence insisted that “the foundation of America is freedom, the foundation of freedom is faith,” a topic he returned to when addressing the protesters outside the building, referring to the consistent noise as “what freedom sounds like”.

As Pence ended his speech and began to be interviewed by Union President Ivan Ampiah, chants from outside died down, to be replaced by loud music coming from the other side of the building, which continued for most of the event.

In a wide-ranging interview, Ampiah questioned Pence on his opinions on the January 6th 2021 attack on the US Capitol, Israel and the Epstein files.

Pence described the Capitol attacks as a “tragic day” for America, although insisted that the quelling of the riots, and subsequent ratification of Biden’s victory in the 2020 election meant that the day eventually became a “triumph of freedom”.

Regarding Israel, Pence expressed his strong support, insisting that the USA “must continue to stand with Israel,” and describing the 7th October attacks by Hamas as an “invasion”. Continuing his remarks, he said that “one does not make peace with one’s enemy, but with one’s defeated enemy,” and that Israel would “do what needs to be done,” so long as Hamas continues to be able to “project force” in the region.

Turning to the audience, Pence fielded questions about immigration in the USA and the fracturing of American right-wing politics.

Questioned by an American student about raids by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) that have taken place since the beginning of Trump’s second term, Pence said that “a nation without borders is not a nation,” and blamed the Biden administration for allowing “ten million people,” to enter the country.

When asked about the rise of conspiracy theories in conservative politics, Pence told the audience to avoid living in “algorithm America,” and to look for “truth, not just information”.

Pence’s appearance at the Union follows an event in May when Charlie Kirk, the political activist and podcaster who was later assassinated, clashed with students over matters such as abortion, feminism and American support for Israel. Several of the students who debated Kirk have since gone on to receive significant attention online and in the media.

The Cambridge Union Society has been contacted for comment. Mike Pence was unable to be reached for comment