While many have been critical of President Donald Trump's closed door meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin —and the press conference after it— his number 2 guy, Vice President Mike Pence, is not among them.
Speaking at the United States Commerce Department today, Pence gave a very different version of Trump's Russian agenda.
JUST IN: VP Pence offers a rose-colored view of Trump's Putin summit: "What the world saw, what the American people… https://t.co/RviBRxJk5C— Peter Alexander (@Peter Alexander) 1531765325.0
A considerable amount of the criticism the President received involves his perceived loyalty to Russia and Putin over his allegiance to the United States. Some, like former CIA Director John Brennan and former Congressman Joe Walsh, went so far as to call Trump's actions and statements treasonous.
However according to Pence, the President is always acting in the best interests of the United States. Nowhere, according to the Vice President, was that more evident than during Trump's Russia visit.
During his Commerce Department remarks, Pence stated:
Disagreements between our countries were discussed at length, but what the world saw, what the American people saw, is that Pres. Trump will always put the prosperity and security of America first."
NEW: Vice Pres. Pence praises Trump-Putin summit: "Disagreements between our countries were discussed at length, bu… https://t.co/LKiTvUFTqJ— World News Tonight (@World News Tonight) 1531767996.0
Pence also stated:
And the truth is, over the last week, the world saw once again that President Trump stands without apology as the leader of the free world."
Our @POTUS is now on his way home from a historic trip to Europe. And the truth is, over the last week, the world s… https://t.co/wSc1yQqOAD— Vice President Mike Pence (@Vice President Mike Pence) 1531767494.0
The Vice President's remarks garnered considerable pushback online.
After Pence posted video excerpts on his official Twitter account, people responded directly to the Vice President with what they saw from the President in Russia. Their assessments differ greatly from that of Pence.
@VP @CommerceGov @POTUS Russia First it seems.— Tim Gyves (@Tim Gyves) 1531764120.0
@VP @POTUS Yes, it is "historic" when a US president throws his own country under the bus for a murderous foreign a… https://t.co/vWWKyLXyys— Betty Cracker 🐊 (@Betty Cracker 🐊) 1531767645.0
@VP @CommerceGov @POTUS America First, huh? You must have slept through the embarrassment this morning— Mike Smith (@Mike Smith) 1531764548.0
@VP @CommerceGov @POTUS The President just trashed his own intelligence agencies in front of the guy who meddled wi… https://t.co/pzgHqDvkiD— (((JE Bornstein☘️☘️☘️ (@(((JE Bornstein☘️☘️☘️) 1531765338.0
@VP @CommerceGov @POTUS POTUS first not America First.— Ms. T (@Ms. T) 1531764540.0
@VP @CommerceGov @POTUS And Nero fiddled while Rome burned..— Susan Vinci (@Susan Vinci) 1531764515.0
@VP @CommerceGov @POTUS No. Pence...you listen here. We have a disaster going on in Helsinki. Please act like a vp for once.— Joyce Reynolds (@Joyce Reynolds) 1531764983.0
@VP @CommerceGov @POTUS You are supporting the most disgraceful man ever to represent the U.S. presidency. #TreasonSummit— Bob Poshedley (@Bob Poshedley) 1531764555.0
@VP @CommerceGov @POTUS America First? You'll be in the history books as the VP to the Russian Puppet president*.… https://t.co/1BYXuX5xLL— Book Turkey 🍂🦃 (@Book Turkey 🍂🦃) 1531766442.0
@VP @CommerceGov @POTUS To treat this day as some regular day on the Hill, while POTUS just sided with Putin over U… https://t.co/42xv6U2szJ— 🍂🍁Tedmom🍁🍂 (@🍂🍁Tedmom🍁🍂) 1531765120.0
@VP @CommerceGov @POTUS Mike, there are fewer Kool Aid-drinkers out here than you imagine. #MuellerIsComing #Indianadoesntwantyouback— Leah Ann Noe ❤️♬ (@Leah Ann Noe ❤️♬) 1531765087.0
@VP @CommerceGov @POTUS You can't undo the damage Trump accomplished during his European tour, and especially not t… https://t.co/6RpbhfFbOk— Cyndy Stachowiak (@Cyndy Stachowiak) 1531765069.0
@VP @CommerceGov @POTUS I can't even begin to understand how you could issue a tweet containing the words 'America… https://t.co/TVGsymL9Kc— The_Reasonist (@The_Reasonist) 1531764981.0
@VP @CommerceGov @POTUS COMPLICIT. My God in Heaven. A True Patriot would stand up and Put America first, not thro… https://t.co/bBMyY4qYeT— ~Ramona~ (@~Ramona~) 1531765127.0
And several reiterated the belief that the President's behavior and words constitute treason against the United States.
@VP @POTUS He should be arrested when he lands...— Rick 🐎 Stable-ist Genius 🎓 Lutz (@Rick 🐎 Stable-ist Genius 🎓 Lutz) 1531767570.0
@rickathy227 @VP @POTUS He shouldn't be allowed to land.— BitchWhere'sMyLapTopBcNaNoWriMo (@BitchWhere'sMyLapTopBcNaNoWriMo) 1531767606.0
@VP @CommerceGov @POTUS Bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla #treason #TreasonSummit #ImpeachTrump #GOPcomplicit— Free Catalonia (@Free Catalonia) 1531764760.0
@VP @CommerceGov @POTUS https://t.co/IaDZu7RpAj— Marta Mendoza🆘🌊🇺🇸🌊🇵🇷🌊🇺🇸🌊🇵🇷🌊 (@Marta Mendoza🆘🌊🇺🇸🌊🇵🇷🌊🇺🇸🌊🇵🇷🌊) 1531765145.0