Donald Trump disagreed with his running mate’s statements on American intervention in the Syrian conflict during Sunday night’s debate, days after Mike Pence had called for possible strikes against the Assad regime over the humanitarian crisis in Aleppo.
Debate moderator Martha Raddatz questioned Trump during the debate about what he would do regarding the humanitarian crisis in Syria, and added that Pence had advocated using American strength to respond to Russian provocations.
“OK, he and I haven’t spoken and I disagree,” Trump said. “I disagree.”
“You disagree with your running mate,” Raddatz interjected.
“I think we have to knock out ISIS,” Trump said. “Right now, Syria is fighting ISIS. We have people that want to fight both at the same time but Syria is no longer Syria. Syria is Russia and it’s Iran who she made strong and Kerry and Obama. … I believe we have to get ISIS. We have to worry about ISIS before we get too much more involved.”
During the vice presidential debate, Pence said Russia’s needs “to be met with American strength.”
“And if Russia chooses to be involved and continue, I should say, to be involved in this barbaric attack on Aleppo, the United States of America should use military force to strike the targets of the Assad regime, and prevent Aleppo.”
Pence also referred to Russian President Vladimir Putin as “small and bullying,” also breaking from Trump, who has referred to Putin’s strength as a leader.
Trump’s split with his running mate on foreign policy will likely raise new questions about how he would seek to defeat the Islamic State. The GOP nominee has not made his plan public, saying he doesn’t want to tip his hand to America’s enemies.
A humanitarian crisis has erupted in Syria, where thousands of civilians are being killed by the Russians and the Assad regime after the U.S.-brokered cease-fire fell apart last month. Deputy Defense Secretary Robert Work called it a “humanitarian catastrophe” this weekend.
Despite Secretary of State John Kerry’s threats to stop talks with Russia seeking an end to violence in Aleppo after the cease-fire crumbled, he has gone back to the table but has so far been unable to broker a deal.
The United Nations on Saturday failed to pass two resolutions to stop violence in Syria: one from the French that would have ended all hostilities in Aleppo and one from the Russians, which would not stop airstrikes in the war-torn city.
Last week, Sen. John McCain called for a new strategy in Syria in a Wall Street Journal opinion piece, including grounding Syrian planes and increasing assistance to vetted Syrian opposition groups.
“The U.S. and its coalition partners must issue an ultimatum to Mr. Assad — stop flying or lose your aircraft — and be prepared to follow through,” McCain wrote. “If Russia continues its indiscriminate bombing, we should make clear that we will take steps to hold its aircraft at greater risk. And we must create safe zones for Syrian civilians and do what is necessary to protect them against violations by Mr. Assad, Mr. Putin and extremist forces.”
Jacqueline Klimas contributed to this report.
