Overview

• Pence said isolationists in the administration lost footing after they criticized Trump’s strike on Iran, crediting that action for the president’s tougher stance on Putin.
• He welcomed the decision this week to reverse a pause on defensive weapons shipments to Ukraine and urged adding offensive capabilities for Kyiv’s forces.
• Pence called it “troubling” that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth paused Ukraine weapons shipments without informing the president and said he expects an investigation into the decision.
• He broke with Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem by defending FEMA as an essential federal “backstop of expertise and personnel” for disaster relief.
• Pence urged Senate leaders to pass a bipartisan Russia sanctions bill to bolster U.S. leverage over Putin.