Former Vice President Mike Pence criticized President Donald Trump on Sunday for remarks the president made during a speech in Saudi Arabia, arguing that the comments undermined the service of U.S. troops who fought in Iraq and Afghanistan.
During an appearance on NBCās Meet the Press, Pence responded to statements Trump delivered in Riyadh last week while visiting the Middle East. In the speech, Trump criticized past U.S. foreign policy efforts in the region, particularly what he described as misguided ānation-buildingā initiatives carried out by previous administrations.
Trump argued that the growth and modernization of cities such as Riyadh and Abu Dhabi were achieved by local populations rather than Western intervention.
āIn the end, the so-called ānation-buildersā wrecked far more nations than they built,ā Trump said during the address. āThe interventionists were intervening in complex societies that they did not even understand themselves.ā
Trump has long emphasized a foreign policy approach centered on limiting U.S. involvement in prolonged overseas conflicts. During his campaigns and presidency, he frequently argued that the United States should avoid āendless warsā while focusing on domestic priorities such as border security and immigration enforcement.
The remarks were delivered during a multi-day trip that included visits to Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates. The president did not include Israel on the itinerary, a detail noted during the Meet the Press interview by moderator Kristen Welker.
Pence said he considered the broader diplomatic visit to be successful but took issue with Trumpās criticism of previous American military involvement in the region.
āIāve never been a fan of American presidents criticizing America on foreign soil,ā Pence said. āAnd to have the president in Saudi Arabia questioning Americaās global war on terror, and describing it as nation-building and interventionist, I thought was a disservice to generations of Americans who wore the uniform.ā
He added that the remarks were particularly notable given the historical context of the Sept. 11 attacks, noting that most of the hijackers involved in the attacks were from Saudi Arabia.
Pence concluded that, while policy debates are appropriate, he believes American leaders should be cautious about how they characterize U.S. actions abroad when speaking internationally.
