Pence defends military mom’s right to criticize Trump

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Pence took questions from the audience about treatment of military veterans, the mental health system, the nation’s relationship with Israel and teachers’ pay.

Pence insisted his running mate would stand with the military, if elected.

In his defense of Trump, Pence has repeatedly said the media is biased.

Pence stuck mostly to the campaign’s theme of law and order. Khizr Khan spoke against the GOP nominee at this year’s Democratic National Convention, prompting harsh words in return from Trump.

Pence campaigned in Nevada on Monday, where he said the USA should “draw down” support of the United Nations because it is often in conflict with the nation’s priorities.

Pence, who has a son in the Marines, then praised the woman’s son for serving.

Last week, Trump ignited a feud with the family of a U.S. Army captain who was killed in Iraq, arguing that the family’s recent criticisms of him were not fair.

Pence’s answer echoed a statement he released Sunday on Facebook, in which he called Capt. Khan an American hero whose “family, like all Gold Star families, should be cherished by every American”. He then said, “That’s what freedom looks like”.

The woman, identified as Carson City native Catherine Byrne, whose son serves in the U.S. Air Force, was booed when she questioned Pence about Trump’s response to the parents of fallen Capt. Humayun Khan, said Politico. “That’s what freedom sounds like”. “It’s all right”, Pence said to quiet the crowd.

It followed Pence’s meeting with McCain Tuesday night in Phoenix, ahead of Pence’s town hall there.

Trump also made waves earlier this election cycle, saying that “he preferred war heroes who don’t get captured” when discussing McCain, who was a prisoner of war during his time in the military.

Trump responded on Tuesday by declining to endorse McCain’s reelection campaign in an interview with the Washington Post.

Not everyone on the sidewalk outside of the event agreed with Pence and his message.

I’ll say this for Mike Pence.

Pence blamed the media for the fallout.

With reporting from The Associated Press.

“I think it will be a challenge for Mike, but I also think he’ll meet the challenge”, Smith said of his friend Pence’s relationship with Trump. “Like the apostle Paul, he’s not flawless but he’s very good and we’re going to make him get better”.

So Trump aides are comfortable with Pence putting out statements that create distance from Trump. He also would not answer questions about the IN governor’s approach to dealing with the fallout from Trump’s remarks.