Donald Trump broke with his own running mate at the second presidential debate Sunday night, saying he hadn’t spoken to Indiana Gov. Mike Pence (R) about Syria policy but that he disagreed that America should intervene militarily if Russia continues to involve itself in that country’s civil war.
“If you were president, what would you do about Syria and the humanitarian crisis in Aleppo?” moderator Martha Raddatz asked Trump. “I want to remind you what your running mate said. He said provocations by Russia need to be met with American strength and if Russia continues to be involved in air strikes along with the Syrian government forces of Assad, the United States of America should be prepared to use military force to strike the military targets of the Assad regime.”
“Okay. He and I haven’t spoken and I disagree,” Trump replied.
“You disagree with your running mate?” Raddatz clarified.
“Right now, Syria is fighting ISIS, Trump said.
Pence’s stance on Syria was one of the major policy differences he took from Trump during last week’s vice presidential debate. The Indiana governor also called Russian president Vladimir Putin, who Trump has praised repeatedly as “strong” during the 2016 race, a “small and bullying leader.”
