Here's what Mike Pence said in new Netflix series 'The American Experiment'
Here's what Mike Pence said in new Netflix series 'The American Experiment'
Kalia Richardson and Jenny Porter Tilley, USA TODAY NETWORKThu, June 25, 2026 at 1:34 PM UTC
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In "The American Experiment" on Netflix, Former Indiana Governor and Vice President Mike Pence recounts the moment President Donald Trump asked him to overturn the 2020 election results.
The new docuseries serves as both a crash course in U.S. history and a reflection on the state of American democracy as the nation nears its 250th anniversary.
"I'll always believe that I did my duty that day," Pence said in the final episode. "To see to the peaceful transfer of power under the Constitution of the United States."
Here's a look at what he said and what else is in the series.
What Mike Pence said in 'The American Experiment'
Pence appears in Episode 5 of the series, titled "Washington's Warning."
He recaps the day when, despite cries of a rigged election and a Jan. 6 riot at the Capitol, Pence acknowledged he didn't have unilateral power in a letter to members of Congress, defied the president and certified the election.
Pence said he drew inspiration from former Vice President Al Gore, who similarly lost the election and ratified the vote.
"My only purpose was to keep my oath," Pence added.
In the show, Pence also talks about the need for respect and decency in political debate.
"At the end of the day we're all Americans," he said. "Treating one another the way that we want to be treated, showing a modicum of respect, especially in disagreement, creates the conditions where you can find common cause."
Recently, Pence told reporters he disagrees with Trump's decision to pardon Jan. 6 convictions and attempts to support the individuals involved with taxpayer dollars.
"It would be my hope that anyone who engaged in violence against law enforcement or at the Capitol building would never be rewarded by taxpayers' money," Pence said in May in Indianapolis.
Previously: Mike Pence criticizes Trump's 'lawfare' fund that may help Jan. 6 rioters
Who else is in 'The American Experiment'?
The five-part docuseries, directed by Brian Knappenberger with Tom Hanks as executive producer, offers novice history buffs an extensive look into the establishment of American democracy. Similar to Ken Burns' "The American Revolution," viewers are taken on a journey through the country's early beginnings from George Washington’s adolescence and the signing of the Declaration of Independence to the ratification of the Bill of Rights and the Jan. 6 riots on the U.S. Capitol.
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The new series teeters on a bipartisan ledge, including conversations with former vice presidents Kamala Harris, Pence, Al Gore; former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton; and Republican Senator Ted Cruz. It also includes notable figures like Cherokee Nation principal chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. and state senators Lisa Blunt Rochester, Rand Paul and Ron Wyden.
Along with the good, the docuseries explores the unanticipated cracks in America's history, such as the nation's inhumane evils like slavery and the exclusion of Indigenous nations from policy, and its lasting impact.
Below are a few more takeaways from the series.
What did Kamala Harris say in 'The American Experiment?
The former vice president focused on the debates that defined the country's founding and its ramifications on the present-day United States, omitting details about her 2024 presidential race.
In Episode 3, Harris discussed the early arrogance of the founding fathers who made proposals for America's independence and questioned who was entitled to freedom.
“When we talk about power… I still also believe in the power of our people to speak up and speak out against the abuses that they see,” Harris said.More: A Look at 'American Experiment' Hillary Clinton, Mike Pence come together in Netflix's 'American Experiment' trailer – Exclusive
Martin Sheen Voices George Washington
Martin Sheen, who famously plays President Josiah "Jed" Bartlet in "The West Wing," voices George Washington within the docuseries.
Voicing the first president of the United States is a unique casting that would pleasantly surprise fans of the nineties political drama who are eager to hear the "Grace and Frankie" actor in another presidential role.
Ted Cruz Quotes 'The Godfather,' Lisa Blunt Rochester Believes in the American Experiment
By the end of the docuseries, Ted Cruz references his favorite movie, "The Godfather," and the opening line, "I believe in America." He later alludes to his upbringing as the son of a Cuban immigrant, who was imprisoned, tortured, and upon arriving in Texas, washed dishes, making 50 cents an hour.
"When I was sworn into office in January of 2013, I stood on the floor of the Senate," Cruz said. "My hand was on my father’s Bible. In the gallery was my father looking down. He had tears running down his face and he said that day, ‘Only in America.’”
As the docuseries examines the country's 250th anniversary, it also questions whether the country can withstand growing partisanship and pressure. For Senator Lisa Blunt Rochester, who fights back tears in the episodes, the experiment is incomplete.
"Are we for some of us, or are we for all of us?" Rochester asked. "I’m not going to lean back. I’m not going to quit. I’m not going to stop. Democracy is worth it. It’s worth it.”
Watch the trailer for 'The American Experiment'
IndyStar Statehouse reporter Kayla Dwyer contributed to this report.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: The American Experiment features Mike Pence speaking about Jan. 6
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
