Vice president-elect Mike Pence said the cast of the Broadway musical hit ‘Hamilton’ did not offend him with the message they gave him from the stage at the end of the show.
“I did hear what was said from the stage, and I can tell you, I wasn’t offended by what was said,” Pence said in an interview with Fox News Sunday.
“I know this is a very anxious time for some people. And I just want to reassure people that what President-elect Donald Trump said on election night, he absolutely meant from the bottom of his heart,” Pence said. “He is preparing to be the president of all the people of the United States of America.”
Pence watched the show with his family on Saturday. According to him, they were greeted with a mixture of boos and cheers as they entered the theater. He nudged his kids and told them “that’s what freedom sounds like.”
When the show was over, as he was leaving, the cast of ‘Hamilton’ addressed him and told him they had something to say to him.
Actor Brandon Victor Dixon called out to thank him for seeing the show and asked him to hear them out. Pence was reportedly already at the hallway, but he stopped to listen.
“We, sir — we — are the diverse America who are alarmed and anxious that your new administration will not protect us, our planet, our children, our parents, or defend us and uphold our inalienable rights,” he said. “We truly hope that this show has inspired you to uphold our American values and to work on behalf of all of us.”
Tonight, VP-Elect Mike Pence attended #HamiltonBway. After the show, @BrandonVDixon delivered the following statement on behalf of the show. pic.twitter.com/Jsg9Q1pMZs
— Hamilton (@HamiltonMusical) November 19, 2016
In the interview, Pence reassured the American people that in the coming days, Trump will be “bringing together people of diverse views,” even those who “differed with him strongly.”
Pence added that Trump and himself have “embraced” the idea that they will work to serve all the people, and they will strive to uphold that principle as public servants.
“I’m very confident that they’re going to see—that they’re going to see President-elect Donald Trump be a president for all of the people,” he said.
Trump addressed the issue by posting two tweets for the ‘Hamilton’ cast the following day demanding that they apologize the the vice president-elect.
“Our wonderful future V.P. Mike Pence was harassed last night at the theater by the cast of Hamilton, cameras blazing.This should not happen!” Trump said.
“The Theater must always be a safe and special place.The cast of Hamilton was very rude last night to a very good man, Mike Pence. Apologize!” he said in another tweet.
Dixon defended his statement at the show, saying “there’s nothing to apologize for,” but he hoped it would be the start of a conversation, CBS News reported.
When asked if he wants or expects an apology, Pence said he would leave it to others to decide whether the theater was “the appropriate venue” for giving him that message.
