Former Vice President Mike Pence said Thursday that isolationists within the Trump administration “may have lost some of their footing,” adding that the president himself is not an isolationist and is being more forceful toward Russian President Vladimir Putin‘s lack of willingness to negotiate the Ukraine war’s end.
Why It Matters
Pence’s comments arrive at a pivotal moment for U.S. foreign policy, as internal divisions have become evident within the president’s coalition over the course of the past few weeks.
President Donald Trump, who propelled his political brand on an “America First” and generally isolationist platform, surprised both allies and critics by authorizing direct military action against Iran and lifting restrictions on military aid to Ukraine. These moves have prompted concern among segments of Trump’s base supportive of a restrained international role, raising questions about the administration’s direction ahead of a crucial 2026 midterm election cycle.
“President Trump’s successful foreign policy record is one for the history books,” White House spokesperson Taylor Rogers told Newsweek on Thursday. “He has delivered historic peace across the world, even in regions where peace has been deemed impossible. President Trump is the foreign policy master, and he doesn’t need a lecture from Mike Pence.”
What To Know
Pence told CNN on Thursday that he hopes Trump is “starting to recognize” that Putin is not interested in negotiating an end to the war he started in Ukraine.
“I think what may have changed is that some of the isolationist voices in and around this administration have recently condemned the president’s correct and courageous decision to launch a military assault against Iran,” Pence said. “I think they may have lost some of their footing with the president.”
“His bias is to lead. I think he understands that America is the leader of the free world,” Pence added.
Trump’s decision this week to reverse his administration’s pause on weapons shipments to Ukraine also caught the former vice president’s attention.
“While I had concerns and expressed them in those first 100 days about the president’s kind of ongoing hope and desire for a negotiated settlement, I welcome his decisions this week and his rhetoric,” Pence said.
Trump’s move, coming after weeks of rising tensions in the Middle East, reflected a willingness by the administration to participate directly in overseas security operations—departing from the restraint that characterized much of Trump’s second-term foreign policy.
That included a decision criticized by members of both U.S. parties, when the U.S. became directly involved militarily in Iran to the benefit of Israel.
The strikes in Iran triggered immediate debate in Republican circles, especially among those who formed the core of Trump’s “America First” coalition. Some prominent figures publicly urged the president to resist involvement in another Middle Eastern conflict, fearing a repeat of past entanglements.
Segments of Trump’s core base expressed concern over the risk of further U.S. military involvement abroad following the Iran strikes. These supporters, many of whom were central to Trump’s election efforts, have argued that increased intervention abroad represents a shift away from the administration’s promises to end “forever wars” and avoid new military engagements.
However, Trump proceeded with the strikes and subsequently indicated openness to additional military support for Ukraine, suggesting a break from stricter non-interventionist doctrine.
Concurrently, Republican lawmakers have responded to these foreign policy moves by exploring further sanctions against Russia and questioning the executive branch’s authority to undertake military action without congressional approval.
What People Are Saying
Sitting with a U.S. and Israeli delegation, Trump told reporters Monday he was “not happy” with Putin and that Washington would send more weapons to Ukraine because “they’re getting hit very hard now” following drone bombardments on its cities.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio told reporters Thursday after discussing Ukraine peace talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov: “I think it’s a new and a different approach. I wouldn’t characterize it as something that guarantees a peace, but it’s a concept that, you know, that I’ll take back to the president.”
Rubio added that Trump has been “disappointed and frustrated that there’s not been more flexibility on the Russian side” to bring about an end to the conflict, according to the Associated Press.
What Happens Next
Future developments will allude to whether isolationist voices regain influence or if the administration advances broader international engagement. Legislative action on Russia sanctions, ongoing oversight regarding military actions and campaign narratives for the 2026 midterms could signal the extent to which recent policy shifts persist. The response of Republican lawmakers and the outcome of debates on congressional war powers may further define the administration’s posture.
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