Former Vice President Mike Pence, who was President Donald Trump’s No. 2 during his first term, interrupted a barrage of criticism against the White House to praise his recent move to bomb Iran’s nuclear sites.
A feud between the men erupted during the 2020 election, when Pence spurned Trump’s request not to certify the results in favor of former President Joe Biden.
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Although he has continued to denounce Trump on a range of issues, from the economy to foreign policy, Pence said Sunday that the president made the right move in targeting Iran’s nuclear ambitions.
“You know, the president and I have had our differences, which resulted in me staying out of the 2024 race,” Pence reflected during an interview on Fox News’ The Story with Martha MacCallum. “But I have to tell you, I couldn’t be more proud of President Trump’s decisive leadership in this moment or the extraordinary professionalism and courage of our armed forces that brought about this historic mission.”
“I really knew in my heart that, if Iran didn’t come to the table, that President Trump would make good on the threat, that if they were not willing to dismantle their uranium enrichment deal, it would be destroyed,” he added.
The former vice president called the U.S.“Operation Midnight Hammer” strikes against three Iranian nuclear sites, “really a continuation” of policies set by Trump during his first term, including the killing of Iranian Gen. Qassim Soleimani, who was responsible for the deaths of over 600 U.S. soldiers in Iraq and for wounding thousands more, and withdrawing the United States from the controversial Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action agreement former President Barack Obama signed with the regime in 2015.
Citing concerns, including that the “horrible one-sided deal” didn’t sufficiently force Iran to reduce its uranium enrichment program, which can be used to make a nuclear bomb, Trump withdrew the U.S. from the JCPOA in 2018.
“I must tell you, I saw last night as really a continuation of the policies of our administration, where we isolated Iran as never before,” Pence said. “I have been there at his side, and I must tell you, I honestly had no doubt that, if the Iranians did not step up and make a deal to dismantle entirely the Iranian enrichment program, that President Trump would act, our armed forces would deliver. And that’s just what happened.”
Trump said he had “obliterated” Iran’s nuclear ambitions after the U.S. bombed the regime over the weekend. Amid the attack and the president’s tentative support for regime change in the country, which would oust Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei from power, Iran has responded by asking Russia to get involved in the conflict. On Monday, Iran said it attacked the U.S. military base in nearby Qatar. The missile strikes were carried out against the Al Udeid Air Base, which houses thousands of U.S. troops.
While he’s criticized Trump on a host of foreign policy stances, including taking a “hostile” approach to Canada through tariffs, and accepting a presidential airplane as a gift from Qatar, Pence hailed his former boss “doing what really needed to be done” in carrying out surprise strikes against Iran’s nuclear facilities, arguing that is “long-standing policy” that Iran should never be allowed to obtain a nuclear weapon.
PENCE GIVEN THE PROFILE IN COURAGE AWARD
The former vice president’s latest comments on the Middle Eastern conflict come after he praised the U.S. for aiding Israel in its fight against Iran when Trump first announced the strikes on Saturday.
“President Trump Made the Right Call to deploy American Forces to strike nuclear sites in Iran and he should be commended for his decisive leadership. Iran could never be allowed to obtain a nuclear weapon,” Pence said in a post to X over the weekend. “Thanks to the resolve of our Commander in Chief and the courage and professionalism of our Armed Forces, America, Israel and the Free World are safer as a result.… Tonight President Trump proved again that the United States of America is the Leader of the Free World and America Stands with Israel. Thank You Mr. President.”