Former Vice President Mike Pence has intensified his ideological conflict with Donald Trump, highlighting a deep rift within the Republican Party over global leadership.

During an appearance on NBC News’ “Meet the Press,” Pence criticized Trump’s recent dismissal of Western-led nation-building efforts in the Middle East.

He argued that the former president’s rhetoric does a “disservice” to U.S. veterans who served in Iraq and Afghanistan, asserting that their contributions remain a vital part of America’s strategic legacy.

The dispute stems from Trump’s speech in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, where he attributed the modernization of the region solely to local leaders while bashing past American foreign policy. Adhering to his “America First” doctrine, Trump claimed that interventionist efforts often yield more harm than good. In response, Pence defended the moral and strategic weight of U.S. internationalism. By standing against the isolationist shift currently popular in the GOP, Pence is attempting to preserve the traditional Republican interventionist stance while honoring the sacrifices of service members.