Mike Pence, Indiana governor and running mate of Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, defended Trump's decision to call President Barack Obama the "founder of ISIS" and Hillary Clinton the "co-founder" during an appearance on Fox News Sunday, according to The Hill.
Trump has claimed that his comments were "sarcastic," though he later added, "not that sarcastic." Pence had a different take.
"I think he was being very serious and he was making a point that needs to be made," Pence said. "That there is no question that the failed policies of President Barack Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in the wider Middle East created a vacuum within Iraq in which ISIS was able to arise... He was making a very serious point."
Pence also said that Trump "[speaks] plainly, like an everyday American. And speaking plainly is exactly what the American people will anticipate in the course of this election."
Some viewers were confused by Pence's stance.
During the interview, Pence also denied that he was Trump's "cleanup crew."
"We have different styles," he said. "But...we have exactly the same convictions."
Pence's entire Fox News Sunday interview with Chris Wallace can be seen below. Complex reached out to the Trump campaign for comment, but they did not immediately respond.
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