Former Vice President Mike Pence has offered advice to current President Donald Trump on how to handle Russian President Vladimir Putin, and it’s not being well-received.
“I mean, there are five Ukrainians who are now dead,” ‘State of the Union’ host Jake Tapper said. “I’m not blaming it on President Trump. It’s obviously President Putin’s fault. But if the ceasefire had happened on Friday, those five Ukrainians would be alive.”
Tapper then claimed that even some Trump supporters suspect that the president “got played” by Putin.
That’s when Pence expounded on his experience working with Trump, when he claimed that he learned his “style.”
“It’s the velvet glove,” Pence said. “But I think the hammer needs to come, and it needs to come immediately.”
#BREAKING: EX-VP Mike Pence says President Trump used a “Velvet Glove” when he should have used a “Hammer” during meeting with Vladimir Putin pic.twitter.com/FjEh815tMA
— The Patriot Oasis
(@ThePatriotOasis) August 17, 2025
Pence went into more detail, saying that Putin needs to understand that the US has the power to “break” the Russian economy.
“I think at the same time, he ought to pick up the phone and ask Majority Leader John Thune to immediately pass the Secondary Sanctions Bill that is supported by virtually everyone in the United States Senate,” Pence continued.
“I think the combination of engagement, but also making it clear to Putin that we are prepared to take actions that would literally break his economy, even while we redouble our commitment to the security of Ukraine and to working closely with our European allies, is important.”
“Look, I said it before, I’ll say it again… Putin has made it no secret of the fact that he wants to reassert the old Soviet sphere of influence, what we used to call the Evil Empire in Eastern Europe. And I think Putin only understands strength. So, while the president and his diplomatic team engage in this re-approach with Putin, and there seems to be interest in my judgment, Putin’s not going to stop until he’s stopped and until he understands that there’s going to be enormous cost to Russia.”
Trump supporters on X didn’t appreciate Pence’s advice and believe the president knows how to handle his business:
The hammer was already used and nothing happend but made things worse. @Mike_Pence do yourself a favor SHUT the HELL up when grown folks are talking.
— CensoredPlanet (@SekundNayture) August 17, 2025
I’ll take President Trump’s gut instinct on how to approach a deal over Mike Pence any day of the week. There is no one size fits all with negotiating. You have to customize the approach for each individual. It’s just like management style, some people thrive with micro managing…
— T-Bone (@TBone_1776) August 17, 2025
Here are two people who were not at the meeting talking about what happened at that meeting.
On a “news” channel.
— K McCormick (@KeevinMccormick) August 17, 2025
And when the deal is done and everyone is happy, what are they going to say? “Oh Trump handled it perfectly…”
No there’ll find more to whinge about. Aren’t they just a little embarrassed at this point.
What they want is to further provoke Russia, but Trump wants Peace. He…
— Juleena (@JuleenaFarrell) August 17, 2025
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Author: Nicole Haas
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