Former US ambassador trolls Pence over Russia

Former U.S. Ambassador to Russia Michael McFaul mocked Mike Pence on Wednesday over Twitter, asking if he had cleared his comments criticizing Russian President Vladimir Putin with running mate Donald Trump.

McFaul noted that the vice presidential nominee was far more critical of Putin than the man at the top of the Republican ticket has been.

Did Pence clear his talking points on Putin with Trump?

— Michael McFaul (@McFaul) October 5, 2016

“Pence last night was brilliant in attacking Trump’s policy on Russia,” McFaul also tweeted.

Pence was starkly critical during the debate of Putin, who both he and Trump had previously referred to as a stronger leader that President Obama.

“The small and bullying the leader of Russia is now dictating terms to the United States to the point where all the United States of America -— the greatest nation on Earth — just withdraws from talk about a cease-fire while Putin puts a missile defense system in Syria,” Pence said.

Pence during the debate also said Russian provocations “need to be met with American strength” and even seemed to threaten Russia with military force if it continued to strike civilians in Syria. 

“If Russia chooses to be involved and continue, I should say, to be involved in this barbaric attack on civilians in Aleppo, the United States of America should be prepared to use military force to strike military targets of the Assad regime to prevent them from this humanitarian crisis that is taking place in Aleppo,” he said.

The comments went far beyond anything Trump has ever said, McFaul noted. 

I wonder if Pence and Trump have ever talked about Russia together?

— Michael McFaul (@McFaul) October 5, 2016

McFaul, who served under President Obama, said he even agreed with Pence — but that Trump did not.