Indiana Gov. Mike Pence made his network debut as Donald Trump
Donald TrumpPowell says White House aides won't let her help Trump Judge throws out GOP lawsuit to close Georgia ballot drop boxes after business hours Bipartisan, bicameral group urges Trump to sign COVID-19 relief package MORE's running mate Friday night, reaffirming his alignment with Trump on some of his more controversial policies and setting the tone for attacks on President Obama and Hillary Clinton
Hillary Diane Rodham ClintonBiden should appoint a presidential commission on election security Joe Biden's continued 'Russian misinformation' defense of Hunter is conspiracy-level laughable Trump's pardons expose another gap in US legal system MORE.
A December tweet from Pence resurfaced amid reports that he had been picked in which he called Trump's proposal to ban Muslims from entering the country "offensive and unconstitutional."
But on Fox News's "Hannity" Friday night, he said he was in full agreement with Trump on the issue, suggesting that the switch follow's Trump's own pivot away from religion and toward geography.
"I am very supportive of Donald Trump’s call to temporarily suspend immigration from countries where terrorist influence and impact represents a threat to the United States," Pence said. “I’ve never hesitated to take issue with fellow Republicans when I don’t think that things came out quite right or quite how I would have done it. And I want folks to know that I strongly agree with Donald Trump’s call that we have got to do something different.”
He said he agrees with Trump's proposal to block Syrian refugees from coming into the U.S., and criticized Clinton for suggesting an increase in accepting refugees.
“I think its reckless and irresponsible for Hillary Clinton to call for a 550 percent increase in the Syrian refugee program at a time of such peril for the United States and our allies," he said.
Pence characterized the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) as a military enemy "conjured up in the vacuum" created by Obama and Clinton, and criticized their leadership in reducing troops in the Middle East. He said the attempted coup in Turkey that was unfolding Friday night was evidence of a sense of anarchy sweeping the region due to the U.S. creating a precarious situation there.
Pence dodged a question from host Sean Hannity about Muslims immigrating to or living in the U.S. who recognize Shariah, an Islam-based rules and law structure — on Thursday another VP contender, Newt Gingrich, had called for the deportation of Muslims who believe in Shariah.
“We just need to be smarter and think harder about individuals who might be coming here," he said.
Pence said he "absolutely" supports Trump's plan to build a Mexico-funded wall along the southern border, but added that there is room for improvement in the nation's immigration system.
“Building a wall, border security has to be job one, internal enforcement. We are a nation of laws and we have to uphold those laws," he said.
In the nearly hour-long interview, Pence gave a glimpse into what the new joint campaign will look like going forward. His measured responses likely came as a relief to Republicans who have been off-put by Trump's freewheeling rhetoric and personal attacks.
But Pence said he expects people to rally around the presumptive nominee at next week's convention and said that Trump understands the "anxiety and aspirations" of Americans like no presidential candidate since Ronal Reagan.
“I think the American people are tired of it. They’re tired of the paralysis in Washington, D.C., they’re tired of the rigged system that hasn’t solved problems for everyday Americans," Pence said. "That's why Trump has risen in the way that he has."
The two will make their first joint appearance Saturday in New York.
