Trump ends any uncertainty, says Pence wouldn't be his 2024 VP, considers pulling Brooks endorsement

Former President Trump has ended any uncertainty about whether he'd pick Mike Pence again as a running mate, saying in a recent interview, "I don't think the people would accept it."

Trump made the statement in a wide-ranging Washington Examiner interview published Wednesday in he also said he's considering pulling his endorsement of Alabama GOP Senate candidate Mo Brooks. 

Pence, a former Indiana governor, in 2016 helped Trump win the GOP nomination by pulling in support from the party's conservative, faith-based factions.

He remained a loyal vice president throughout the administration but angered Trump by not back his stances over the matters related to Jan. 6, 2021 Capitol riot, which delayed Pence overseeing congressional certification of the results of the 2020 presidential election that Trump lost.

Trump publicly pushed Pence to overturn the results of the election, which he insists was stolen. Pence refused, arguing the Constitution did not grant him such authority.

"Mike and I had a great relationship except for the very important factor that took place at the end," Trump also said in the interview. "We had a very good relationship. I haven’t spoken to him in a long time."

Trump also said: "I was disappointed in Mike."

Brooks, amid low poll numbers, is another strong Trump supporter who – more recently – also appear to distancing himself from the former GOP president 

"Mo Brooks is disappointing," Trump said.about the former  Alabama congressman who is running to replace fellow Republican retiring Sen. Richard Shelby.

Brooks was among those strongly backed assertions Trump lost reelection as a result of voting fraud and he spoke at the January 6, 2021, "Stop the Steal" rally before the Capitol riot.

But now, nearly a year into the race and showing some weakness in the polls, Brooks has pivoted and is telling supporters to "look forward" to 2022 and 2024. 

Trump says if he can no longer count on Brooks to do what he said he would, then he would have no problem pulling his endorsement.

"I would have no problem changing [my endorsement] because when you endorse somebody, you endorse somebody based on principle," he said. "If he changed that principle, I would have no problem doing that."