Staff Reports
In a fiery showdown at the Family Leadership Summit, Tucker Carlson unleashed his piercing questions on former Vice President Mike Pence. And boy, did Pence stumble. It’s safe to say that his presidential aspirations may have just hit a major roadblock.
Tucker Interview of Mike Pence in Iowa Is a Train Wreck on Ukraine and Jan. 6 https://t.co/aSDNmGe67u
— RedState (@RedState) July 14, 2023
First, let’s talk about Pence’s stance on Ukraine. Tucker wasn’t buying it when Pence expressed concern over the lack of American tanks in Ukraine. Carlson rightly pointed out that our own country is facing immense challenges, and yet Pence is more worried about Ukraine’s tank situation. Seriously, Mike? We elected you to prioritize America, not play matchmaker for foreign militaries.
TUCKER: "You are distressed that the Ukrainians don't have enough American tanks. Every city in the United States has become much worse in the last three years…! And yet your concern is that the Ukrainians…don't have enough tanks?"
PENCE: "I've heard that routine from you… pic.twitter.com/LHjNOCDJ31
— Townhall.com (@townhallcom) July 14, 2023
TUCKER: "The Pentagon says that…we're very low in our stockpiles. Is that a concern to you?"
PENCE: "The answer is not to shrink from America's role as leader of the free world. The answer is to invest in our national defense!" pic.twitter.com/c6UIuT7ecV
— Townhall.com (@townhallcom) July 14, 2023
TUCKER: "I'm confused…The Zelensky government has arrested priests…I sincerely wonder how a Christian leader could support the arrest of Christians…"
PENCE: "I asked the Christian leader in Kiev if that was in fact happening, and he assured me it was not." pic.twitter.com/NV5BFzQ7GJ
— Townhall.com (@townhallcom) July 14, 2023
Mike Pence is getting visibly frustrated with Tucker… pic.twitter.com/28cNF9HdAe
— Townhall.com (@townhallcom) July 14, 2023
PENCE: "As [January 6th] wore on…obviously the tragic loss of life ransacking the capitol that occurred…"
TUCKER: "When you say the tragic loss of life, who are you referring to?"
PENCE: "Ashli Babbitt would come to mind immediately!"
TUCKER: "What do you think of the fact… pic.twitter.com/xMh4Qe6LI4
— Townhall.com (@townhallcom) July 14, 2023
JUST IN: Tucker Carlson laughs in Mike Pence's face for being reluctant to agree that the U.S. should get rid of electronic voting machines.
Pence: "We do everything in our power to restore public confidence in the one person one vote principle."
Tucker: "Why not just get rid… pic.twitter.com/LbpvRNTfYM
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) July 14, 2023
But Pence’s blunders didn’t end there. He seemed completely oblivious to the concerns raised about the depletion of our own resources due to our aid to Ukraine. Instead of acknowledging the validity of the issue, Pence simply regurgitated tired talking points about investing in “our national defense.” Sorry, Mike, but Ukraine’s defense is not our responsibility. We have our own problems to address.
Speaking of problems, Pence’s response to alleged religious discrimination in Ukraine was downright disappointing. As a self-proclaimed fervent Christian, one would expect Pence to stand against any form of religious discrimination. Yet, when confronted with the issue, he appeared visibly upset and failed to provide a strong, principled response. It’s disheartening to see a leader cave under pressure like that.
And then there’s the question of the Jan. 6 riot. Pence’s reply about the “tragic loss of life” and the police’s “restraint” did not sit well with many conservatives. It’s understandable that he would emphasize the importance of law and order, but to downplay the significance of that fateful day and the concerns surrounding it is a missed opportunity to connect with the base.
Lastly, Pence’s lackluster response to electronic voting machines didn’t earn him any brownie points either. This is a topic that conservatives are passionate about, and they expect their leaders to take a strong stance against potential election risks. Unfortunately, Pence’s lukewarm reaction did little to inspire confidence.
Overall, Tucker Carlson’s interview with Mike Pence was a train wreck. Pence fumbled his way through tough questions, failing to provide satisfactory answers on Ukraine, religious discrimination, Jan. 6, and electronic voting machines. As a conservative, it’s disheartening to see a potential presidential candidate stumble so badly on critical issues. Pence may have just taken himself out of the running with this disastrous performance.
