Trump learned of Pence heart surgery from media: report

Former President Trump reportedly first learned about former Vice President Mike Pence’s heart surgery, which he underwent earlier this month to implant a pacemaker, through media reports, CNN reported on Thursday, citing two people familiar with the matter.

According to CNN, Pence only notified a few family members and aides before going into surgery, after experiencing symptoms associated with a slow heart rate.

After learning the news, Trump reportedly called his former vice president to wish him a speedy recovery, the network added.

A number of former Pence aides were reportedly caught off guard when they learned, through a statement from his office, that their former boss had undergone surgery, according to CNN.

Pence has largely stayed out of the public eye since appearing at President Biden’s inauguration in January. 

Reports that the two men had a fractured relationship surfaced following the Jan. 6 riot in which Trump never checked in on his vice president when insurrectionists supporting the former president stormed the Capitol.

Pence, in his role as vice president, had been certifying the Electoral College votes that affirmed President Biden the winner, going against Trump’s repeated requests that he block the procedure amid unsubstantiated claims of widespread voter fraud that led to his loss.

The former Indiana governor and congressman has largely stayed off the radar since Biden’s inauguration in January.

On Thursday, Pence is slated to make his first major speech since leaving office to deliver remarks in South Carolina at a dinner hosted by the Palmetto Family Council, a conservative Christian nonprofit group.

Heading to South Carolina today to deliver remarks to the Palmetto Family Council on the Conservative values that have made America great!

Tune in back here at 7:00PM EST to watch live.

— Mike Pence (@Mike_Pence) April 29, 2021

The former vice president has, though, remained active behind the scenes since leaving office. He launched Advancing American Freedom earlier this month, an advocacy group that he said will defend conservative values while opposing the Biden administration’s agenda.

He also joined the Heritage Foundation as a distinguished visiting fellow, where he has a regular column and podcast. Additionally, Pence joined former Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker’s (R) Young America’s Foundation as a scholar.