Pence sends message to GOP members who are against Ukraine aid bill

Former Vice President Mike Pence today asks Congress to approve funds for aid to Ukraine and warns that Russian President Vladimir Putin will end up waging war against a naito country if Ukraine loses the war. To do it as soon as possible. Pence is in Belgium for the Brussels forum, speaking about the danger of American isolationism. There are those who think that if we continue to support the Ukrainian army with resources that it will somehow lead us to World War III. I think it's quite the opposite. I think the real lesson of history is when we falter in our commitment, when we do not take tyrannical regimes seriously and do not take dictators at their word.

And now joining us is former Vice President Mike Pence. Mr. Vice President, he has been speaking with European leaders in Belgium while traveling in Europe. What are you hearing from Allied leaders about Russia's war against Ukraine? How serious is the situation and your fears about what Putin will do after Ukraine? Well, I think you actually use the word I've heard most often, which is that the situation in Ukraine is terrible today. But the reality is that there is a storm brewing that I think our allies here in Europe recognize. That's why it's so encouraging to me to see President Mike Johnson and Republican leadership moving forward on a relief

bill

.

I think America is the leader of the free world, Jake. And I think it's important right now that we accept that responsibility, that we renew support for the Ukrainians who fought against this brutal and unprovoked invasion for more than two years, giving them what they need to fight, because, as I said here today and have said for many years, having known Vladimir Putin, I have no doubt that if Putin were allowed to invade Ukraine, it would not be long before he would cross the border into a narrow country where our men and women would be required to uniformed women will fight.

So the situation is terrible. Vladimir Putin continues to brutalize the people of Ukraine, he literally fired a missile at a hotel that claimed dozens of lives and injured almost 100 men, women and children. Now is the time for the United States to take the lead. And I'm encouraged to see Congress moving in that direction. They are moving in that direction, but it is taking a long time. And much of the protest against this

bill

is coming from the right wing of the House Republican Party. Some of Donald Trump's most unconditional supporters. What do you tell them when they don't say more?

Not one more cent for Ukraine. What is your answer? Well, I tell you, from my years of experience as vice president, from my years serving on the Foreign Relations Committee and in the House, this is a truly testing moment for America. And we need to face this moment. Look, I understand the frustration over the Biden administration's failed policies at home and abroad. I mean, literally, the worst border crisis in American history resulting from Joe Biden undoing every policy we put in place, record inflation over the last three years, and that disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan that undermined credibility and trust of the free world in American Leadership.

I think everything literally set the stage for the moment we find ourselves in today. And I would simply say to my colleagues on Capitol Hill, my old friends, that now is the time for the United States of America to square its shoulders. We need to recognize that we are the leader of the free world and we need to step up, step into this moment, send a deafening

message

not only to Russia and Vladimir Putin, Jake, but also renew our support for our dear ally, Israel, support. Taiwan, and also send a very clear

message

to the mullahs in Tehran and, frankly, to President Xi in Beijing that the United States will stand firm for freedom.

You say isolationism is never the answer. That was the topic of his speech today. The rhetoric of his former running mate, Donald Trump, has been a major driving factor in his party. The Republican Party's gradual shift toward a more isolationist view over the past eight years. It may be a minority opinion, but its power is growing. And this helped create the climate for the fight over foreign aid that we are seeing today, which also threatens President Johnson's position. Now, you have distanced yourself from Trump both because of January 6 and because of his views on foreign aid.

But I wonder if, as Trump's former vice president, did he ever feel that he perhaps played any role in the erosion of the Reagan ideology that he espouses? Well, first, let me not overlook the fact that I think President Johnson is in a difficult situation. Look, he is a very narrow majority. And I think what the American people will witness here is nothing less than moral courage. President Mike Johnson has decided to do what he believes is right and entrust the outcome to the American people right now. And I congratulate him for that. But to his question, it's a fair question, but I will tell you that I honestly believe that the rise of this new Republican isolationism, I think, is something that has emerged in the last three years, particularly with the disaster. on our southern border, record inflation and the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

I think there are a lot of Republicans who are coming back to believing that we have problems here at home. We can't solve all of the world's problems when the reality is that anyone who says we can't secure our border, revive our economy, and be the leader of the free world has a pretty small vision for the greatest nation in the world. . We have done both for 75 years and we can do both again and in our administration. I honestly believe, Jake, that, you know, we strengthened our military, we supported our allies, we confronted our enemies. We didn't go looking for entanglements abroad.

But when the moment arose, whether it was a fight against ISIS, shooting down Qasem Soleimani cruise missiles in Syria, we were willing to use American force. And that is the opposite of isolationism. That is American leadership. You have said that you do not support Donald Trump. Nor has he ruled out voting for him. Why not? Well, I'll keep my vote to myself. You know, I would never vote for Joe Biden, but I thought it was fair that a lot of people asked me where I stood going forward. And I know, because of the differences that the president and I still have over my constitutional duties on January 6, but also, as you said, because of how I see the president shying away from our commitment as leader of the free world, being prepared to ignore the national debt , now, even moving away from a commitment to the right to life at the national level, I just made it clear that I will not be endorsing Donald Trump in this campaign, but I will keep my vote for mine and all of mine.

I will vote my conscience privately, as every American will. Before I go, I have to ask you about Donald Trump's hush money criminal trial, which is going on right now in New York. He has criticized the case that the district attorney, Alvin Bragg, has presented, saying that it is, quote, nothing less than a political process affected by a Manhattan district attorney. who literally campaigned to bring charges against a particular American, quote-unquote. Surely you can't think it's okay to falsify business records. And I don't think, from what I know of you, you would ever approve of a married man cheating on his wife with a porn star.

So, forgetting the judgment for a second, what about the alleged underlying behavior? Well look, the sordid details of this business, details of this. I want to remind you and your viewers that every American has the right to the presumption of innocence. So I want to maintain that stance as this criminal trial moves forward. But look, a lot of people all over this country see a case like this. The two previous prosecutors rejected it and the current prosecutor rejected it until he was pressured to file again. He changed it from a misdemeanor to a felony. And this just doesn't seem like equal treatment under the law.

Mr. Trump is presumed absolutely innocent until proven guilty. There is no doubt about that. I said alleged behavior. Do you think he is innocent of those charges? Your personal opinion of him? Dont do it. I wouldn't mind speculating about it, be honest with you. But I will tell you that the very idea of ​​a campaign finance case being brought before a state court as a criminal matter, someone who has lived under campaign finance laws for most of my career at the federal level, did . You know, Jake, to be honest with you, it seems like a stretch.

Former Vice President Mike Pence, thank you very much. Safe travels, sir. Thanks, jake.