In a sharp rebuke of his former running mate, former Vice President Mike Pence condemned Donald Trump for criticizing American foreign policy during a recent trip to the Middle East. Pence labeled Trump’s remarks a betrayal of U.S. service members and inappropriate for a sitting president visiting foreign soil.
“I’ve never been a fan of American presidents criticizing America on foreign soil,” Pence said during an appearance on NBC’s Meet the Press. “And to have the president in Saudi Arabia questioning America’s global war on terror, and describing it as nation-building and interventionist, I thought was a disservice to generations of Americans who wore the uniform and who took the fight to our enemy, you know, in Afghanistan and in Iraq.”
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Pence’s comments were in response to Trump’s speech in Saudi Arabia, where the president criticized the West’s past military interventions, referring to them as efforts by “so-called nation-builders, neo-cons, or liberal non-profits.” Pence also noted the significance of the location, saying, “And particularly giving that speech in Saudi Arabia, where 15 of the 19 9/11 hijackers hailed from, not including Osama bin Laden, I thought was unfortunate.”
The exchange comes as Trump faces further scrutiny over his plans to host a large-scale military parade in Washington, D.C., on June 14—his 79th birthday. During the Meet the Press interview, Trump defended the event’s expected cost of $25 to $45 million, calling it “peanuts” and insisting the celebration is not about his birthday, but a tribute to America’s military.
“We have the greatest missiles in the world. We have the greatest submarines in the world. We have the greatest army tanks in the world. We have the greatest weapons in the world. And we’re going to celebrate it,” Trump said.
According to a Defense Department official, the parade will feature more than 100 military vehicles, including Abrams tanks, and over 50 helicopters. Metal plates will be laid across Washington’s streets to protect infrastructure and prevent damage from heavy armored vehicles, which weigh upwards of 120,000 pounds.
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The event also coincides with the U.S. Army’s 250th anniversary, and White House spokesperson Anna Kelly stated that the parade’s expenses will be shared between the Department of the Army and the U.S. Semiquincentennial Commission.
“President Trump will commemorate the United States Army’s birthday with a military parade that honors all who served since our great nation was founded 250 years ago,” said Kelly. “There is no event grand enough to adequately capture our gratitude for the millions of heroes who laid down their lives defending our freedom. But this parade will be a fitting tribute to the service, sacrifice, and selflessness of all who have worn the uniform.”
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