Former Vice President Mike Pence continues to position himself as a critic of his former running mate, Donald Trump, as he attempts to maintain influence within the Republican Party. Speaking on Meet the Press on Sunday, Pence criticized remarks Trump made during a speech in Riyadh last week. Trump had questioned the effectiveness of past U.S. interventions in the Middle East, arguing that Western “nation-builders” often caused more damage than progress. He suggested that modern development in cities such as Riyadh and Abu Dhabi was largely the achievement of local populations rather than foreign intervention.
Pence said he disagreed with the president’s decision to frame those criticisms while speaking overseas. He argued that questioning America’s role in the global war on terror in front of a foreign audience was unfair to U.S. service members who fought in Afghanistan and Iraq. Trump made the comments during a multi-day trip through the Gulf region that included visits to Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates. The trip drew attention partly because Trump did not include a stop in Israel.
Despite their differences since the January 6 United States Capitol attack, Pence said his criticism is based on principle rather than personal conflict. Through his advocacy group, Advancing American Freedom, he says he hopes to remain a “constructive force” in shaping the conservative agenda while supporting Trump on policies where they agree, including efforts to reverse immigration measures introduced by Joe Biden.
