Mike Pence enters Republican 2024 US presidential race

Former US vice president Mike Pence is set to declare his campaign to run for president in 2024.

Pence, 63, the nation’s 48th vice president, is filing paperwork on Monday, which pits him up against former boss, Donald Trump.

The pair worked closely together two years ago up until their time in the White House ended with an insurrection at the US Capitol.

He will formally launch his bid for the Republican nomination with a video and kick-off event in Des Moines, Iowa, on Wednesday (7 June), which is his 64th birthday, according to people familiar with his plans.

Trump is currently in the lead of the early fight for the nomination, with Florida governor Ron DeSantis polling consistently in second.

A staunch opponent of abortion rights, Pence supports a national ban on the procedure and has campaigned against transgender-affirming policies in schools.

YouTube/@ForbesBreakingNews

He also has said the US should offer more support to Ukraine against Russian aggression, while admonishing 'Putin apologists' in the party unwilling to stand up to the Russian leader.

Pence, who describes himself as 'a Christian, a conservative and a Republican, in that order'.

Meanwhile, former president Trump complained that The Department of Justice will not charge former vice president Pence for any potential mishandling of classified documents.

“That’s great, but when am I going to be fully exonerated, I’m at least as innocent as he is,” he said on Truth Social.

“And what about Joe Biden, who is hiding at least 1850 boxes, and some located in Chinatown, DC?

“When will the witch hunt against 'TRUMP; stop?”