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Ukraine war: in veiled swipe at Trump, Mike Pence says no room in Republican Party for ‘Putin apologists’
- The former vice-president, in a speech to donors, took on those in his party who have failed to forcefully condemn Putin for his invasion of Ukraine
- He also urged Republicans to move on from the 2020 US election result which Trump still disputes
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Former vice-president Mike Pence urged Republicans to move on from the 2020 US election and declared that “there is no room in this party for apologists for Putin” as he further cemented his break from ex-president Donald Trump.
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Pence, in a speech on Friday evening to the party’s top donors in New Orleans, took on those in his party who have failed to forcefully condemn Russian President Vladimir Putin for his unprovoked invasion of Ukraine.
“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,” Pence said, according to excerpts from the speech, which was closed to reporters. “There is only room for champions of freedom.”
Pence did not directly reference the former president. But Trump has repeatedly used language that has been criticised as deferential to Putin, including calling the Russian leader “smart” while insisting the attack never would have happened on his watch.
Pence also continued to push back on Trump’s lies about the 2020 election as he lays the groundwork for a possible 2024 presidential run. Trump, who has been teasing his own comeback bid that could potentially put the two in direct competition, has continued to falsely insist that Pence had the power to overturn the election, which he did not.
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“Elections are about the future,” Pence said. “My fellow Republicans, we can only win if we are united around an optimistic vision for the future based on our highest values. We cannot win by fighting yesterday’s battles, or by relitigating the past.”
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