Former Vice President Mike Pence is positioning himself as a “constructive force for the conservative agenda” in President Donald Trump’s second term, distinguishing himself as one of the few Republicans willing to challenge the administration.

“For me, it’s always principles first. It’s not personal,” Pence said in an interview with The Associated Press.

Despite his public break with Trump following the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot, Pence stated that he would support the new administration on policies he agrees with while opposing those he does not.

His political advocacy group, Advancing American Freedom, has already spent nearly $1 million on ads targeting President Trump’s newly confirmed Health and Human Services Secretary, Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

The former vice president said he and those who work for him received “a lot of quiet encouragement” in opposing Kennedy. Pence described finding it necessary to speak out on finding the “nomination of an abortion rights supporter to be secretary of HHS to be a dramatic departure from 50 years of strong pro-life leadership at HHS under Republican administrations.”

When he was asked why Republicans might be reluctant to oppose Trump publicly, Pence said, “I never speculate on motives. You know, I’m not new to town. I’ve waged lonely battles before.”

He added: “But you know, you have to be willing to step out and lead. My hope is that when the next issue of life comes up, that people will have been encouraged, emboldened to know that they’re not alone.”

Regarding RFK Jr.’s nomination, Advancing American Freedom President Tim Chapman told Fox News Digital that his organization believed “it would be an abdication of duty and responsibility if nobody said anything about the life issue in particular, let alone some of the other concerns.”

“I think it’s more likely now that he’s better on life than if we had not engaged in the issue at all,” Chapman said. “Part of being constructive is weighing in and sending a market signal when the administration or Republican leadership might try to go in a direction that’s not tethered to conservative principles. And so you’re not always going to win all those fights.

“And in fact, we don’t even view it as our job to win all those fights. We view it as our job to start the conversation,” he added.