Mike Pence has picked up a handful of nicknames over the course of his political career, some coined by allies, one born from a presidential slip of the tongue, and a few used by critics describing his role in the Trump administration. Here’s where the most documented ones actually came from.
Mike Pounce
The most viral nickname attached to Pence wasn’t intentional at all. During a 2019 speech in Baltimore, President Trump was running through a list of conservative allies and accidentally referred to his vice president as Mike Pounce instead of Mike Pence. Clips of the moment spread quickly online, and Mike Pounce briefly became a widely used joke nickname across social media in the days that followed.
46
This nickname came from Anthony Scaramucci, who served briefly as White House Communications Director under Trump. Scaramucci said he coined the nickname out of genuine admiration for Pence, hoping he would go on to become the 46th President of the United States following Trump’s time in office.
The Stepford Veep
Former White House aide Omarosa Manigault Newman used this nickname in her memoir Unhinged, describing how staff referred to Pence’s consistently loyal, agreeable demeanor toward Trump. The nickname plays on The Stepford Wives, a reference to unquestioning, almost programmed obedience.
Hoosier
Every vice president gets a Secret Service code name, and Pence’s was Hoosier, a nod to his home state of Indiana, where residents are commonly known by that nickname. Trump’s code name during the same period was Mogul.
Media Descriptions During His Vice Presidency
A few outlets used their own shorthand to describe Pence’s role in the administration rather than a true nickname. USA Today referred to him as an Out Of The Loop Dupe in one piece examining how much Pence actually knew about certain administration decisions, while GQ magazine described him in a critical profile as a Stolid Hack, arguing he functioned more as a supporting figure than an independent political voice. These weren’t nicknames Pence used or embraced himself, but they show up often enough in political commentary from that era to be worth knowing about.
Why Political Figures Attract So Many Nicknames
Politicians in the public eye often collect nicknames from many sources. Supporters, rivals, staff, and the media can all create names that highlight different traits. Trump became known for giving blunt and often unflattering nicknames to political rivals. Pence largely avoided that treatment. Instead, his nicknames grew from gaffes, allies, and critics rather than direct attacks from Trump.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Mike Pence’s most well known nickname?
Mike Pounce is probably the most widely recognized. It came from a viral moment in 2019 when President Trump mispronounced his name.
Who gave Mike Pence the nickname 46?
Anthony Scaramucci, a former White House Communications Director, coined the nickname. He said he hoped Pence would eventually become the 46th president.
What is Mike Pence’s Secret Service code name?
His code name was Hoosier, referencing his home state of Indiana.
What does the Stepford Veep nickname mean?
It references Omarosa Manigault Newman’s memoir and describes Pence’s loyal, agreeable public behavior toward Trump. The phrase plays on the classic idea of unquestioning obedience from The Stepford Wives.
Did Mike Pence ever use these nicknames himself?
Most of these nicknames came from other people. Allies, former staff, journalists, and the general public all used them. Pence rarely adopted these nicknames himself.
Final Thoughts
Mike Pence’s nicknames tell a pretty clear story about his time in national politics, shaped far more by outside observers than by anything he crafted for himself. Some, like Hoosier, are simple and practical. Others, like The Stepford Veep, reflect real criticism from people who worked closely with him. And one, Mike Pounce, exists purely because of a single unscripted moment that spread across the internet before anyone could stop it.
