Meet the Press: Mike Pence

Interview

Thank you, Kristen, and congratulations.

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Well, first, I think it's important that American leaders in both parties speak with one voice. If the world knows nothing else, the world needs to know this: America stands with Israel. What happened two weeks ago was the most brutal assault on the Jewish people since the Holocaust. And we need to stand with Israel as they prepare to do what needs to be done, which is going to require a ground invasion. They're going to have to hunt down and destroy Hamas once and for all. And there's going to be hardship. There's going to be difficulty. But I really do believe this is a moment where American clarity and leadership is more important than ever. And -- and -- and before you get to the aid question, I also think, look, President Biden said the other night, "This is what happens when dictators are not held to account." Kristen, it's also what happens after a disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan. It's also what happens after two years of appeasement by President Biden with Iran. And I really do believe it's also what happens when voices in my own party have been signaling retreat from the war raging in -- in Ukraine, and even one candidate for president, Vivek Ramaswamy, recently was sounding the retreat in support for Israel. So, look, I really believe that this is a moment where we need to stand firm, we need to learn the lessons of history, but we need American leadership that's strong, and firm, and resolute for the sake of Israel, for the sake of peace in Eastern Europe, and for the security of the world.

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Well, what's important is that Israel knows we are with them. I mean, it was about a month ago Vivek Ramaswamy actually said that we wouldn't send American armed forces into harm's way if Iran attacked Israel. Look, there's that old Bible verse that says, "If the trumpet does not sound a clear call, who will know to get ready for battle?" I really believe, in this moment, America has to send a clear call that we will stand with Israel every step of the way if they do what needs to be done. I agree with what one Israeli official said recently. Israel and Hamas cannot coexist. We must support Israel in their effort to crush Hamas and secure their nation.

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And I will.

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Of course, I've been a very strong supporter of military aid to Ukraine since the invasion by Vladimir Putin --

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I would support Congress moving that measure together or separately. But I think it's more important what the outcome is. I mean, I just heard the former speaker of the House say that we need to make sure Israel has what they need, particularly with resupplying Iron Dome and other security apparatus that exist in Israel, in their war. And we've been -- we've been supporting Ukraine. But, at the end of the day, look, weakness arouses evil. And I really do believe that if America does not continue to respond to this moment in Eastern Europe and in the Middle East, to no less extent in the Asia-Pacific, with resolute American strength, the balance of the 21st century could look a whole lot more like the first half of the 20th century.

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Yeah.

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Kristen, we've got Americans being held by bloodthirsty terrorists in Gaza. And if I was president of the United States, I would have directed Joint Special Operations Command to stand up Delta Force, to stand up the Navy SEALs, who do the best hostage rescue in the world, and say, "You need to -- you need to work with IDF, and we need to tell Hamas, 'You've got 12 hours to turn American and Israeli hostages loose, or we are coming to get them.'" I mean, look, I welcome the release of two American hostages this week. I'm grateful for that. But going hat in hand to Qatar and standing by while Hamas decides whether they're going to release another hostage is totally unaccepted. We are the leader of the free world. We are Israel's strongest ally on the planet. We need to send a message to Hamas that you need to turn those hostages back over, or you'll answer not just to Israeli Defense Forces, but you'll answer to the United States Armed Forces.

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Well, I must tell you, I know I did my duty on January 6th to support and defend the Constitution of the United States. And thanks to the courage of law enforcement, we quelled the violence that day, we reconvened the Congress and completed our work under the Constitution. But this whole business of false electors was something I wasn't aware of at the time. I've learned about efforts afterwards, but --

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I just didn't, other than in the press. There was some discussion about people convening for electors. I mean, most of -- most of what I was dealing with was that the president and a group of crackpot lawyers that had surrounded him were making the case that I had the authority to reject or return votes back to the states, which no vice president in history had ever asserted or ever should. The presidency belongs to the American people and the American people alone. And I know by God's grace I did my duty that day.

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No, I was in the room when I saw him doing it. But, you know, the president is responsible for the decisions that he made and the demands that he made on me. Look, our nation won a revolutionary war against a king, and I knew, from the first time I heard a rumor about the vice president being able to reject or return votes to the states, the founders of this country would have never granted one person the ability to decide which votes to be counted. But the president chose to believe that. He still believes it. He still stands by that, as do many of his supporters. But I must tell you, as I travel around the country, there's not a day that goes by that someone from literally every walk of life doesn't come up to me at an airport, or at a diner, at a pizza place and just thank me for what we did that day. And I always tell them, "It was God's grace that gave us the strength."

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Well, we're working really hard to qualify for the debate. And it's going to be down in Miami, and lots of people are going to MikePence2024.com and making a contribution to give us the numbers in contributions that we need to qualify. But, you know, I will tell you, look, I don't have the most money in this campaign. But I do have the most experience. I mean, it's the reason why I'm running, Kristen. I mean, when Karen and I thought through this over the last two years, I reflected on the fact that I think this country's in a lot of trouble. I think Joe Biden has weakened America, at home and abroad. It's become more clear around the world in recent weeks. And here at home, a crisis at our border, a crime wave in our major cities, families struggling, and the worst inflation in 40 years. And when I looked at my experience not just as vice president but as a governor of a successful conservative state, as a leader in the Congress of the United States, we thought of that other verse that says, "To whom much is given, much will be required," and we stepped forward out of a sense of duty." And it's carrying that message, bringing that experience forward that gives us great confidence that we're going to continue to drive forward in this campaign and continue to marshal the support of people all across the country.

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