Trump Says He Hasn’t Spoken To His Own Running Mate About Syria

Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump speaks during the second presidential debate at Washington University in St. Louis, Sunday, Oct. 9, 2016. (Rick T. Wilking/Pool via AP)
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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.”

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Notable Replies

  1. “Right now, Syria is fighting ISIS, Trump said.

    Trump is way too simplistic considering Russia is an ally of Bashir Assad and a full half dozen militias are in the mix aside from ISIS who is fighting everybody.
    Trump sees this in black and white terms which it isn’t

  2. Asked if Trump had just kneecapped Pence, Michael Steele responded “Both knees. Dismissively.” LOL

    Steele has become a pretty delightful guy since he quit representing the GOP (Grab Our Pussy).

  3. I think “an idiot” would be a more accurate characterization.

  4. …it’s that orange bodyshield he’s wearing… blocks out all shades of grey…

  5. Well, he’s been working so hard on his secret plan to obliterate ISIS.

    We have, however, obtained this copy of the said plan:

Continue the discussion at forums.talkingpointsmemo.com

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