Pence swipes at Trump's 'focus' as he details his own agenda for the country

"Elections are about the future," the former vice president said.

In another break from his one-time boss, former Vice President Mike Pence said Tuesday in Washington that while he and Donald Trump may not differ on conservative ideology they "may differ on focus" -- and Pence said he wouldn't be stuck in the past.

"I don't know that our movement is that divided. I don't know that the president and I differ on issues. But we may differ on focus. I truly do believe that elections are about the future," he said at the Young America's Foundation student conference, about a mile away from where Trump was slated to speak at another event later Tuesday.

Trump's appearance marks his return to the nation's capital for the first time since leaving office in the shadow of the Jan. 6 insurrection. His and Pence's remarks offered another split-screen for the onetime GOP ticket -- and possible 2024 competitors -- who became estranged in the wake of the Capitol riot.

The former vice president made his comments about Trump in response to a student at the conference who asked about Trump's upcoming speech. The student asked about the divide between the two on their outlook for the future of the conservative movement.

"[It] is absolutely essential at a time when so many Americans are hurting, so many families are struggling, that we don't give away to the temptation to look back," Pence said.

"But I think the time has come for us to offer a bold, positive agenda to bring America back," he said. "And I'll continue to carry that message all across this nation."