Former Vice President Mike Pence has continued to voice criticism of his former running mate, Donald Trump, as he seeks to maintain a presence within the Republican Party’s national conversation. His latest remarks focused on comments Trump delivered during a recent speech in Saudi Arabia, which Pence argued could diminish recognition of the sacrifices made by American veterans who served in Iraq and Afghanistan.Appearing on Meet the Press, Pence addressed statements Trump made in Riyadh regarding the history of U.S. involvement in the Middle East. In that speech, Trump criticized several past American military interventions in the region and questioned the effectiveness of Western-led nation-building efforts.
While speaking in the Saudi capital, Trump argued that the growth and modernization of cities such as Riyadh and Abu Dhabi were largely driven by the initiative and leadership of local populations rather than by outside powers. He suggested that many international attempts to reshape governments in the region had produced mixed or even negative outcomes.
“In the end, the so-called ‘nation-builders’ wrecked far more nations than they built,” Trump said. “The interventionists were intervening in complex societies that they did not even understand themselves.”
Trump has long promoted a foreign policy approach centered on limiting prolonged U.S. military engagements overseas. His political platform frequently emphasizes avoiding “endless wars,” strengthening border security, and pursuing a more restrained form of international engagement.
The remarks came during a multi-day trip through the Middle East that included visits to Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates. The itinerary notably did not include a stop in Israel, a detail that was raised during the NBC interview.
Although Pence described the broader diplomatic trip as successful, he said he disagreed with Trump’s decision to criticize past U.S. foreign policy while speaking abroad. Pence argued that questioning America’s role in the global war on terrorism in such a setting was inappropriate, particularly given the sacrifices made by U.S. service members in conflicts following the September 11 attacks.
