Mike Pence Booed In Testy Exchange With Tucker Carlson Over Ex-Vice President’s Support For Ukraine

Topline

Former Vice President Mike Pence clashed with Tucker Carlson Friday when he defended his ongoing support for the U.S.’ involvement in the Russia-Ukraine war, eliciting boos from the crowd.

Former vice president and Republican presidential candidate Mike Pence fields questions from former … [+] Fox News prime-time host Tucker Carlson at the Family Leadership Summit on July 14, 2023, in Des Moines.

Scott Olson/Getty Images

Key Facts

Pence said he believes “that it is in the interests of the United States of America to continue to give the Ukrainian military the resources they need” during an interview with the ex-Fox News host at the Family Leadership Summit in Iowa, prompting boos from the crowd.

The crowd cheered when Carlson challenged Pence’s stance, asking, “Where’s the concern for the United States in that?” and claiming, “Every city in the United States has become much worse in the last three years.”

Pence pushed back on the notion, telling Carlson: “Anybody that says that we can’t be the leader of the free world and solve our problems at home has a pretty small view of the greatest nation on earth.”

Pence reiterated his long-held belief that Russian dominance over Ukraine would empower President Vladimir Putin to “cross the border of a NATO country,” a scenario that would require the U.S. to launch a military defense of its NATO ally.

In addition to Pence, Carlson interviewed GOP presidential candidates Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.), former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, biotech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson at the summit.

Key Background

While other Republican candidates, including DeSantis and former President Donald Trump (who did not attend the Iowa event), have suggested the U.S. should scale back its involvement in the Russia-Ukraine war, Pence, a traditional conservative defense hawk, has criticized the Biden Administration for not providing military aid to Ukraine earlier. Pence, who met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky recently in a show of his support, applauded Biden for the administration’s controversial decision to send cluster bombs to Ukraine, part of a series of moves over the past week to enhance the U.S.’ commitment to supporting Ukraine. The U.S. and its G-7 partners also announced on Wednesday new long-term security commitments to Ukraine, including promises to help it build a sustainable military and provide immediate technical and financial support.

Tangent

Carlson has made a number of controversial—and unfounded—claims to downplay the impact of Russia’s attacks on Ukraine. He recently suggested, also without evidence, that the Ukrainian military, or perhaps the United States, blew up the Kakhovka dam in Ukraine, despite Ukrainian and NATO officials saying that Russia exploded the dam.

Topline

Key Facts

Key Background

Tangent

Further Reading