In 2000, Mr Pence wrote an op-ed in which he denied the risks of smoking. “Time for a quick reality check”, he wrote. “Despite the hysteria from the political class and the media, smoking doesn’t kill.”
He is also a longtime climate change sceptic, and has often expressed doubt about the theory of evolution.
And he has also advocated directing federal funds away from “organisations that celebrate and encourage the types of behaviours that facilitate the spreading of the HIV virus” in favour of “those institutions which provide assistance to those seeking to change their sexual behaviour”.
In fact, Mr Pence’s history on HIV is a theme that runs particularly strongly through his record – and is the single thing that’s causing the most outrage at his appointment.
While serving as governor of Indiana, Mr Pence faced an outbreak of HIV in the south of the state, mainly among intravenous drug users. Many had become addicted to opioid painkillers and ended up sharing needles with other HIV-positive addicts.