Former Vice President Mike Pence is expected to tell Republican donors Friday that there is “no room” in the GOP for Russian President Vladimir Putin apologists.
Excerpts of the speech to a Republican National Committee retreat in New Orleans, which were obtained by reporters, indicated that Pence will deepen the divide between him and former President Donald Trump, who said he “got along great” with Putin, at a time when the Russian leader is waging war on Ukraine.
“To those who argue that NATO expansion is somehow responsible for the Russian invasion of Ukraine, ask yourself: Where would our friends in Eastern Europe be today if they were not in NATO?” Pence is expected to say. “Where would Russian tanks be today if NATO had not expanded the borders of freedom? There is no room in this party for apologists for Putin. There is only room for champions of freedom.”
High-profile figures in the GOP other than Trump, including former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Fox News host Tucker Carlson, have faced backlash within the party for comments some view as being overly sympathetic to Putin, according to The Hill. Pompeo called Putin a “talented statesman” with “lots of gifts,” while Carlson questioned why U.S. residents should hate Putin.
Pence, seen as a potential 2024 presidential candidate, has been at odds with Trump in the year since the former vice president refused to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election. On Feb. 18, he said he does not know if he and Trump “will ever see eye to eye” regarding Jan. 6, when President Joe Biden’s victory was certified, calling it a “tragic day.”
The White House voiced support for Pence cooperating with the Jan. 6 House select committee after Pence aides provided testimony and documents. White House press secretary Jen Psaki said Thursday that Biden “believes that anyone who was asked should participate in the process of getting to the bottom of what happened on Jan. 6.”
Trump said in a Friday interview that even though he considered Putin a friend, he once told him the United States would “hit” Moscow if Russia invaded Ukraine on his watch. He claimed Russia did not invade Ukraine in the last four years “because he knew he couldn’t.