While many have been critical of President Donald Trump's closed door meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin —and the press conference after it— his number 2 guy, Vice President Mike Pence, is not among them.
Speaking at the United States Commerce Department today, Pence gave a very different version of Trump's Russian agenda.
A considerable amount of the criticism the President received involves his perceived loyalty to Russia and Putin over his allegiance to the United States. Some, like former CIA Director John Brennan and former Congressman Joe Walsh, went so far as to call Trump's actions and statements treasonous.
However according to Pence, the President is always acting in the best interests of the United States. Nowhere, according to the Vice President, was that more evident than during Trump's Russia visit.
During his Commerce Department remarks, Pence stated:
Disagreements between our countries were discussed at length, but what the world saw, what the American people saw, is that Pres. Trump will always put the prosperity and security of America first."
Pence also stated:
And the truth is, over the last week, the world saw once again that President Trump stands without apology as the leader of the free world."
The Vice President's remarks garnered considerable pushback online.
After Pence posted video excerpts on his official Twitter account, people responded directly to the Vice President with what they saw from the President in Russia. Their assessments differ greatly from that of Pence.
And several reiterated the belief that the President's behavior and words constitute treason against the United States.