<p><img src="https://static4.businessinsider.com/image/6032d16bbed5c50011a2bbfa-2400/GettyImages-1215600071.jpg" border="0" alt="Pence Trump" data-mce-source="Photo by Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images" data-mce-caption="Then-Vice President Mike Pence and then-President Donald Trump in the Rose Garden on March 29, 2020."></p><p></p><bi-shortcode id="summary-shortcode" data-type="summary-shortcode" class="mceNonEditable" contenteditable="false">Summary List Placement</bi-shortcode><p>Marc Short, who served as chief of staff to former Vice President Mike Pence, <a href="https://www.cnn.com/videos/politics/2021/02/21/pence-former-chief-of-staff-marc-short-capitol-riot-trump-nr-vpx.cnn/video/playlists/this-week-in-politics/">said on Saturday</a> that "despite their differences" the former vice president and former President Donald Trump "departed amicably" from the White House last month and have since spoken with each other.</p><p>While Trump is slated to speak at the high-profile <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/cpac-2021-speakers-trump-pence-orlando-republican-conservative-2021-2" data-analytics-module="body_link" data-analytics-post-depth="40" data-uri="b447fcefd3cfccbda2c790f886b6ac4d">Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC)</a> being held in Florida this week, Pence reportedly declined to participate this year, <a href="https://twitter.com/GabbyOrr_/status/1363249454988558338's=20">according to Politico</a>.</p><p><a href="https://www.cnn.com/2021/02/20/politics/trump-cpac-republican-party/index.html">According to a CNN report</a>, organizers are hoping that Pence will change his mind and attend the conference, while a source told the network that the former vice president is aiming to keep a low profile over the next 6 months.</p><p>While Pence attended President Joe Biden's inauguration last month and interacted with his successor, Vice President Kamala Harris, Trump <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-farewell-speech-andrews-smallest-crowd-cnn-2021-1">departed</a> for his Mar-a-Lago club in Florida and skipped the ceremony.</p><p>Trump, who spent months <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-fox-interview-bartiromo-debunked-fraud-allegations-election-2020-11">disputing the validity</a> of the election and <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/brian-kemp-trump-phone-call-oveturn-georgia-election-results-biden-2020-12">sought to toss out votes</a> in several states, pressured Pence to reject the results of the Electoral College during the January 6 certification process.</p><p>In a letter to Congress, Pence contended that he <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/pence-says-doesnt-have-unilateral-authority-throw-electoral-votes-2021-1">could not unilaterally toss</a> the results.</p><p>Before the <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-biden-electoral-college-loss-violence-presidential-election-extremism-2021-1">Capitol riot</a> began, Trump spoke to a crowd that assembled not too far from the White House.</p><p>"Mike Pence is going to have to come through for us," <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/pence-angry-trump-after-all-the-things-done-inhofe-quote-2021-1'">Trump said</a>. "And if he doesn't, that will be a sad day for our country."</p><p>Trump reportedly <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/pence-trump-relationship-after-capitol-riots-electoral-college-pressure-2021-1">did not speak</a> to Pence for several days after the riot, where Pence and his family had to be moved to a secure location in the Capitol building, according to NBC News.</p><p>When CNN's Pamela Brown <a href="https://www.cnn.com/videos/politics/2021/02/21/pence-former-chief-of-staff-marc-short-capitol-riot-trump-nr-vpx.cnn/video/playlists/this-week-in-politics/">asked</a> Short about how Pence <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/pence-angry-trump-after-all-the-things-done-inhofe-quote-2021-1">dealt</a> with Trump's election-related criticism, especially during the hostile situation at the Capitol, he expressed that the former vice president was focused on more pertinent issues.</p><p>"The Vice President was in a secure location on the phone with [GOP House] leader McCarthy, [GOP Senate] leader McConnell, Speaker [Nancy] Pelosi, and [Democratic Senate] leader Schumer trying to figure out how we can get back to work as quickly as we can," he said. "His focus was really on how quickly can we get back to finishing the work of the American people and not allowing those who had perpetrated those crimes to be victorious on that day."</p><p>Short downplayed any sort of tension between the two men.</p><p>"The reality is that the President and Vice President met," he said. "They talked several times before they departed. They departed amicably. The President told the Vice President he did a great job for him. They've spoken since."</p><p>He added: "Clearly, there were differences about what the Vice President's role was on January 6, but I think at that moment, the Vice President was focused on doing his job and staying at his post until it was complete."</p><p><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-pence-relationship-gop-future-presidency-2021-2#comments">Join the conversation about this story »</a></p> <p>NOW WATCH: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/melissa-maker-clean-your-home-quickly-cleaning-expert-2017-4">A cleaning expert reveals her 3-step method for cleaning your entire home quickly</a></p>
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