Vice President Mike Pence defended himself against backlash over his choice of accommodations on his visit to Ireland.
Pence told reporters that he understood the “political attacks by Democrats” but pushed back at criticism over his stay at the Trump Doonbeg golf resort during an official visit to Ireland.
(Video: CBS News/YouTube)
“If you have a chance to get to Doonbeg, you’ll find it’s a fairly small place and the opportunity to stay at the Trump National in Doonbeg, to accommodate the unique footprint that comes with our security detail and other personnel, made it logical,” Pence said.
“We checked it with the State Department. They approved us staying there,” he added.
Pence, who along with second lady Karen Pence, traveled with his mother and sister in a visit which was rearranged to include the stop in Doonbeg where he has family ties. His official duties involving most of his meetings with Irish leaders actually were set in Dublin, more than 125 miles away.
Mike Pence is staying at Trump Doonbeg while he’s in Ireland. His meetings, however, are in Dublin.
For those not fluent in Irish geography, the one is not necessarily convenient to the other. pic.twitter.com/fqP6yOBOMC
— Derek Wallbank (@dwallbank) September 3, 2019
“We followed normal protocol,” Marc Short, Pence’s chief of staff, told reporters on Tuesday, adding that it was Trump’s recommendation.
Vice President Mike Pence and Second Lady Karen Pence arrive in Shannon, Ireland. pic.twitter.com/NlUztR70YL
— The Hill (@thehill) September 3, 2019
Pence came under immediate fire for the move, criticized for the misuse of taxpayer dollars by requiring the extra travel to Dublin. Many blasted the decision as another example of how the visit benefits Trump and his properties.
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez joined the cacophony of voices on the left slamming Trump and somehow connecting Pence’s lodgings with the president’s “racist immigration policies.”
“Virtually every policy Trump pursues works to steal public money & personally enrich himself & his friends,” Ocasio-Cortez tweeted Tuesday. “It’s always about the con.”
Virtually every policy Trump pursues works to steal public money & personally enrich himself & his friends.
?Gutting National Monuments pays ➡️ Fossil Fuel CEOs
?Border concentration camps pay ➡️ Private Prison CEOs
?Betsy DeVos pays ➡️ loan sharksIt’s always about the con. https://t.co/ggINFg52Kw
— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) September 3, 2019
She went on in another tweet, ranting that “racism works as the cover for the con” as “corruption isn’t popular policy.”
“That’s why addressing racism isn’t a ‘distraction’ – it’s key to understanding the hustle against working people,” she said. “Culturally, racism is used as the unspoken cudgel against pro-working class policy.”
Since corruption isn’t popular policy, racism works as the cover for the con. That’s why addressing racism isn’t a “distraction” – it’s key to understanding the hustle against working people.
Culturally, racism is used as the unspoken cudgel against pro-working class policy. /2
— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) September 3, 2019
For example:
By rallying support for super racist immigration policies, (Muslim Ban, concentration camps,etc), supporters look the other way at the billions of public dollars going to private prison CEOs – who then kick some that ? back to Trump (ex. his inaugural committee)
/3— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) September 3, 2019
Beyond the moral wrong, racism is a powerful political tool used to dismantle public goods & civil rights.
So long as bigoted sympathies exist (subtly or loud), they will be used. That’s why convincing people racism is a sidenote,¬ broad or institutional, is a strategic move.
— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) September 3, 2019
Fellow Democrat Rep. Ted Lieu also chimed in, accusing Pence of “funneling taxpayer money” to Trump.
Hey @VP @mike_pence: You took an oath to the Constitution, not to @realDonaldTrump. Funneling taxpayer money to @POTUS by staying at this Trump resort is sooooooo corrupt.
Also, I hope you don’t encounter bedbugs. Many people say there are lots of bedbugs at Trump properties. https://t.co/KgJfnMRSgt
— Ted Lieu (@tedlieu) September 3, 2019
The Democratic National Committee also tweeted.
Hurricane Dorian: approaching Florida
Trump: busy golfing at a Trump property
Pence: also at a Trump property
Your tax dollars: making the Trump family richer https://t.co/gaKMGrDddW— DNC War Room (@DNCWarRoom) September 2, 2019
Meanwhile, the vice president was able to enjoy some real family connections on his visit.
It’s a pleasure to welcome Vice President Mike Pence and his wife Karen to Ireland. pic.twitter.com/RZJHPujnfA
— Leo Varadkar (@LeoVaradkar) September 3, 2019
We took the opportunity to show the Vice President and his mother Nancy the military service record of his grandfather, Richard Michael Cawley, who served with distinction in the Irish Defence Forces during the Civil War. pic.twitter.com/fQIciUy3ty
— Leo Varadkar (@LeoVaradkar) September 3, 2019
Thank you Taoiseach @LeoVaradkar for showing my family and me my grandfather’s signature in the the National Army Recruitment Register. We were so honored to see that and be presented with a framed copy of the page. pic.twitter.com/iUhOmuzIwI
— Vice President Mike Pence (@VP) September 3, 2019
President Michael D. Higgins today welcomed US Vice-President Mike Pence to Áras an Uachtaráin.
See details at https://t.co/3yZt7RXRCO pic.twitter.com/LRvdN6gr28
— President of Ireland (@PresidentIRL) September 3, 2019
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