Pence calls Trump’s attacks on Milley ‘utterly inexcusable’ at AP-Georgetown foreign policy forum

Associated Press ^ | October 3, 2023 | Meg Kinnard and Jill Colvin

[Olog-hai]

Former Vice President Mike Pence on Tuesday criticized his former boss-turned-rival, Donald Trump, for calling retired Gen. Mark Milley, the former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, a traitor over phone calls he made to China in the final stormy months of their administration.

“Frankly what Donald Trump said about him in that tweet, about treason and death, was utterly inexcusable,” the GOP presidential candidate said at a national security and foreign policy event at Washington’s Georgetown University co-hosted by The Associated Press.

Pence also reacted to the news that House Speaker Kevin McCarthy had been ousted from his post by a contingent of hard-right conservatives. Asked how other countries might interpret McCarthy’s ouster as it relates to the stability of the U.S. government, Pence considered the question silently for 13 seconds before responding, “Chaos is never America’s friend.”

Pence pushed Tuesday for traditional GOP foreign policy goals and leadership ideals at a time when that vision — and his campaign — are struggling to gain momentum among Republican voters. Many GOP voters oppose sending more military aid to Ukraine, and three months ahead of Iowa’s kickoff caucuses, Pence continues to poll in single digits. He was positioned at the far right side of the stage at the last GOP debate. […]

Pence has accused rivals like Trump and his followers of abandoning U.S. allies and argued the only way to keep America safe is by engaging with the world, while also criticizing what he sees as President Joe Biden’s missteps in the U.S. withdrawal of Afghanistan. …

[Albion Wilde]

STHU, traitor.

[1Old Pro]

Pence, amazing someone so unpopular thinks his voice matters.

[TigersEye]

Thanks! We’ve got our work cut out for us.

[Taxman]

That we do, my FRiend!

That we do!