Donald Trump says he disagrees with running mate Mike Pence on Syria: ‘He and I haven’t spoken’
Pressed to explain what he would do to address the civil war in Syria, Donald Trump said during Sunday’s debate that he disagrees with the position of his running mate Mike Pence.
Donald Trump discusses humanitarian crisis in Syria: Mike Pence and I “haven’t spoken, and I disagree” #debate https://t.co/NtF5weGxgu
— CNN (@CNN) October 10, 2016
Repeating her question, moderator Martha Raddatz reminded Trump of Pence’s recent remarks that “provocations by Russia [in Syria] need to be met with American strength.”
As ABC News reported last week, Trump has mainly advocated a hands-off approach to Syrian President Bashar Assad, as well as working closer with Russia to combat ISIS. Russia, which has supported the Assad regime, recently vetoed a United Nations resolution demanding the Syria government halt airstrikes in Aleppo to allow for humanitarian aid to reach the war-ravaged city.
Pence said last week that if Russia continued to be involved in airstrikes, the United States should be prepared to use military force against the Assad regime.
“He and I haven’t spoken and I disagree,” Trump told Raddatz. “I disagree.”
Trump said he wants primarily to “knock out” ISIS, rather than fight both the Syrian regime and the terrorist group. U.S. officials have called for the Assad regime to be investigated for war crimes against its own citizens.
Trump’s stated difference in opinion with his running mate on the approach to Syria comes as Pence and his team were reportedly “apoplectic” over recently leaked sexually explicit comments by Trump.
Prior to the debate, Pence’s hometown paper, the Indianapolis Star, reported Sunday that the Indiana governor is keeping his options open, but sticking with Trump for the near future, even amid the exodus of Republicans abandoning their party’s nominee.
Following Sunday night’s debate, Pence tweeted he was “proud” to be Trump’s running mate.
https://twitter.com/mike_pence/status/785310165327151104
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