Former Vice President Mike Pence mentioned in a recent interview that he was “pleased” to have the chance to converse with President-elect Donald Trump at the state funeral for former President Jimmy Carter on Thursday.

“I appreciated the opportunity to speak with the president yesterday; it was something I welcomed,” Pence shared during a podcast interview with Christianity Today that was recorded on Friday.

Photographers captured Trump and Pence shaking hands and exchanging a few words before the ceremony began at the Washington National Cathedral. This was the first public interaction between the former allies since Trump urged Pence not to certify Joe Biden’s electoral victory nearly four years ago.

“I said, ‘Congratulations, Mr. President,’ and he replied, ‘Thanks, Mike,'” Pence recounted.

Pence also addressed the body language of his wife, Karen Pence, who did not extend her hand to Trump and seemed to avoid meeting him.

“For her perspective on that, you’d need to ask my wife,” Mike Pence noted, adding, “We’ve been married for 44 years, she deeply loves her husband, and I hold her in great respect.”

In his memoir from 2022, “So Help Me God,” Mike Pence attributed threats to his safety to Trump’s actions when a violent mob, influenced by Trump’s untrue allegations of election fraud, stormed the Capitol on January 6, 2021.

Pence stated that Trump’s “careless remarks endangered my family and all those present at the Capitol.” Despite this, they ultimately “parted on good terms.”

Pence also ran against Trump in the 2024 Republican primary, although he was not successful. During that race, Trump asserted that Pence was largely responsible for the Capitol riot. Pence retorted that “history will hold Donald Trump accountable.”

After withdrawing from his presidential campaign, Pence chose not to endorse Trump.