Former vice president and future 2024 presidential candidate Mike Pence took a rare swipe at his former running mate on Saturday, saying ‘no one should be praising the dictator in North Korea’ or the Russian president. Vladimir Poutine.
Although he did not name Donald Trump in his comments, the search came just a day after the former president took up a post about North Korea’s nomination to the World Organization’s board. health on social media, writing “Congratulations to Kim Jung Un!”
Trump also pointed out during a recent town hall with Fox anchor Sean Hannity that he has a strong relationship with Putin and is used to praising authoritarian leaders.
“Whether it’s my former running mate or anyone else, no one should praise the dictator in North Korea – or praise the leader of Russia, who launched an unprovoked war of aggression in Ukraine “, said Pence in an interview with Fox News in Iowa. “This is a time when we need to make it clear to the world that we stand for freedom and stand with those who stand for freedom.”
During their joint tenure, Trump made unprecedented overtures to the North Korean leader, with the former president meeting with the UN three times during his four-year tenure, including in North Korea.
Pence’s comments are the latest sign the ex-vice president will step up attacks on Trump to carve out his own space ahead of the Republican primaries.
Former Trump ambassador to the UN and 2024 candidate Nikki Haley also went wild on Twitter over the post. “Kim Jong Un is starving his people” she wrote.
Pence is expected to announce a presidential bid on June 7.