Allen. About Domestic Abuse allegations against former white house staffer rob porter. This is 35 minutes. We thank cspan for carrying this event today. I think my colleagues who made all of this possible, including our ceo. Cofounder, and a couple friends of the show. I think all of you for being here. I really appreciate it. I look forward to seeing you here, where we make you smarter. Hop on axios. Com. Our next guest has been a congressman, a House Republican leader, the governor of indiana, and is now the Vice President of the United States. On behalf of all of my hardworking colleagues, we are honored to welcome to the stage mike pence. [applause] welcome back. Vice pres. Pence thank you. Mike you were just telling us that the olympics, you realize that you are good at to winter sports, sledding and skiing. If i get upence the slopes without anything being broken, i think it is a gold medal. In addition to the offices i mentioned at the top, you were a statewide radio host in indiana. Used to cut yourself Rush Limbaugh on decaf. Yourself, thisto would be so awesome. Vice pres. Pence i do. How did you know that where i started out . That was a little radio station. I started out doing a Washington Update on wednesday nights, one day week. It did grow into a Daily Radio Program that i thought might actually be my career in broadcasting radio and television. The opportunity came along to run for congress on martine. One of more time. Now i am sitting with u. S. Vice president of the United States. It is all very humbling to me. Mike you are just back from the olympics. Force two on the way home you told Washington Post columnist that you had conversations with south korea about for the engagement with north korea. Stance for u. S. Talking with his korea north korea . Vice pres. Pence let us be clear who you are dealing with. Korea is the most repressive regime and the planet. As United Nations has documented repeatedly, north korea is a nation that oppresses its people , seven out of 10 north koreans require Food Assistance just to survive. Over a million north koreans were left to starve and die in the 1990s under this regime. Torture, brutality, imprisonment, more than 100,000 north koreans are in modernday gulags. As President Trump said memorably, north korea is today nothing short of a prison state. That is the reality. The fact that north korea is developing and pursuing Nuclear Weapons that could be delivered on Ballistic Missiles to the continental United States is completely unacceptable. The fixed policy of the United States of america is that we are going to continue, with all options on the table, to bring an economic and diplomatic pressure to bear until north korea, once and for all, completely and verifiably abandons its Nuclear Weapons and Ballistic Missile program. That is the fixed policy of United States of america. As President Trump has said many times, i always believe in talking. Clear thate it very we are open to communicating our policy to the regime in north korea. What north korea needs to understand, as i made clear in an announcement in japan, when we announced a new round of sanctions that will be imposed, the largest ever. We are confident our allies will join us in it. Until thell change day comes that north korea abandons its Nuclear Weapons and Ballistic Missile programs and seizes to threaten the United States of america. Like it does not sound those two things are preconditions for any conversation. Itself like youre looking at the tools in your bet belt and do more talking. Vice pres. Pence it is accurate to say that we want to make sure north korea understands us. If there is an opportunity for that can communicate the fixed policy of United States of america to them, the president has made it clear. Yet was lisa and talking. He always believes in talking. Talking is not a negotiation. Talking is understanding one another. When you think of the mendacity of this regime, the appalling record of human rights i sat in seoul last week with defectors from north korea, a woman who had been jailed for 28 years for no reason whatsoever. She managed to escape that regime. Another young woman who had been incarcerated and then sold into sex slavery and then, once she was forcedred, she to have an abortion and lost a child. She still grieves with tears in her eyes to this day. Heard of the extraordinary and inspiring story during the president s state of the union address. Regime likelow the north korea to possess Nuclear Weapons and Ballistic Missiles to threaten the United States of america. The record that they have demonstrated, their lack of respect for human rights, their lack of respect for the wrong , their willingness to use violence and torture against their own people, it makes it an unacceptable outcome. We will continue to maintain. North korea must completely verifiably and permanently abandon its Nuclear Weapons program and its Ballistic Missile programs. Then and commences, only then can we consider any change in posture by the United States or the international community. Mike is it a little sloppy to say you will talk but not negotiate . It sounds a little washington. Vice pres. Pence the president has made it very clear. All options are on the table. As it may clear. Has a viable is military options to deal with the threat of nuclear and Ballistic Missiles from north korea. Our hope is that we can achieve by peaceful means what they the World Community has agreed long of, the denuclearization north korea and the removal of Nuclear Weapons from that regime. We want to exhaust every opportunity to make sure the north koreans understand our attentions and the seriousness of the United States of america and our allies. This is a very important point. Moon,et with president there is no daylight between the United States of america and south korea and japan on our commitment to continue to intensify our maximum pressure campaign. Until they abandoned their Nuclear Weapons program. Itsh korea has commenced interkorean talks over the lip ask experience there is some suggestion that that may continue. Ithave made a very clear very clear that we will all remain united in our shared commitment that the camera inime and north korea north korea must permanently abandon their Nuclear Weapons program. Before there is any progress whatsoever on the pressure on the sanctions that are being placed on that nation. Mike this may have escaped your notice, but the north korean leaders sister got some coverage on tv. Did you give any consideration to greeting her . Vice pres. Pence i did not. I did not avoid the dictators sister. I did ignore her. I did not believe it was proper for the United States of america attention in that forum to someone who is not merely the sister of the dictator but is the leader of the propaganda effort. You have to remember that this is a family that very recently ordered that their brother be murdered using chemical weapons. The world saw that in horror on airport videos reproduced. This is a regime and a family that also ordered that their uncle be executed with artillery fire in front of a crowd of 10,000 people. She is the leader of the propaganda effort of that government. This is evil the likes of which we have witnessed rarely in our time around the world. Send, by my silence, a very clear message that the people of the United States of america know who were dealing with and that we are going to continue to stand firmly and strong with resolve and with our allies until the regime in north korea ceases to threaten our country and our allies with nuclear and Ballistic Missiles. We will continue to hold them to account on their appalling record of abuse of human rights of their own people. Director, dan coots, russia toessure interfere in the 2018 elections. You agree . The first pence thing we all agree on is that, irrespective of efforts that 2016 by foreign powers, it is the universal conclusion of our intelligence communities that none of those efforts had any effect on the outcome of the toy six election. 2016 election. That is the accepted view. ,here were efforts by russia and likely by other countries, to involve or influence american elections. We take that very seriously. That inquiry Investigation Continues to be ongoing. It is always for also forwardlooking. In my briefings, a variety of our intelligence agencies, we have discussed plans Going Forward to ensure that meddling in our elections by russians or other powers around the world will be rebutted and will we will continue to develop the kind of technologies that ensure and maintain the integrity of our electoral system. Mike what is an example of height can stop how you can stop or make it harder for them to a fear interfere . Vice pres. Pence we all remember north korea hacking sony. Today, whether corporate espionage or other types of espionage, other countries are constantly trying to penetrate the Information Technology infrastructure of the United States of america. Heartening that infrastructure, hardening that infrastructure ofl be an ongoing effort this administration and congress Going Forward. Let me say again, encouraging word is that it is the universal conclusion of our intelligence communities that there was no impact on the outcome of the 2016 election. I believe that bears repeating. The American People can be confident about the results of the election in 2016. Going forward, we are going to lean into this effort to that ourto ensure statebased election systems and all of the infrastructure of this country are protected from foreign interference. Mike you are at the olympics when the news came of the staff secretary. You are the father of two daughters. Yourot a lot of credit for comments. You said there is no tolerance in the white house and no place in america for Domestic Abuse. You said youre going to look in the into the matter. What have you found . Thispres. Pence administration has no tolerance for domestic violence. Nor should any american. Said, ihite house has think the white house couldve handled this better. I still feel that way. That being said, any more counsel i have on this i will share with the president of the United States. Mike are you 100 confident that general kelly has been fully honest and transparent in his estimation of rob porter support your departure . Vice pres. Pence there are very few americans that have served this nation more honorably or sacrifice more for this country than the family of general john kelly. Uniform,ys service in his distinguished service at our department of homeland security, we saw dramatic reduction of illegal dressings at our southern border, and his distinguished service as chief of staff, gives me the president and great evidence me and the president great confidence. Uniform, here in and gone, have served this nation with the love and patriotism and depression. It should inspire us all. You are saying that he think you should say stay . Vice pres. Pence john kelly has an unremarkable job. Remarkable job. Overseas did a lot of travel on behalf of the president. You plant and aggressive midterm campaign. You are off to the great state of texas . Vice pres. Pence we are. Im not surprised that you notice there are some elections coming up. Midterm elections for the party in office in the white house are historically challenging. I really like our challenges this chances this year. I have already been out on the campaign trail. We look forward to talking about a record of accomplishment that was made possible by republican majorities. It really is amazing to think about how far this country has come just in the first year of this administration. Tape,g back federal red transforming the federal judiciary, more court of appeal judges concerned confirmed in a one year than in american seeing us past historic tax relief for the American People. Tax relief that is already. Rent earned we have seen the Dynamic Growth over the last year of the stock market, adding to retirement and savings of a million americans. , an agreement reached on capitol hill to lift the budget caps and finally, after years of military cutbacks, to be making a kind of investment in the American Military that will ensure the Strongest Military in the history of the world. Will be stronger still. I cannot not be more proud of all of those compliments. We are putting america first. American is prosperity. It will be a great privilege for me. What is the biggest mistake the Trump Administration year one . Ur one vice pres. Pence expecting a bit more cooperation mike that does not count. Vice pres. Pence you know history better than most. The level of obstruction by the democrat minority in the senate, just to routine appointments, is astonishing. I was with the secretary of a just education. We were talking about progress in our schools earlier this week. She is so waiting for her deputy secretary of education. There are five other major of appointments in the department of education that are still being held up by democratic obstruction in the senate. When the American People elected president , they elected administration. There has always been that great tradition but after the proper role of advising and consent that the president is allowed to surround himself with men and women they think will be able to advance the agenda that they were elected to advance. The level of obstruction has been unprecedented by this democrat minority in the senate. We hope that we are hopeful that we see changes on the talk to immigration issue more cooperation. Mike i think you were a little too hard on yourself. [laughter] as people understand the president , what do people get most right and wrong about the menu no behindthescenes . Vice pres. Pence what they get most right about my friend the president of the United States is that he says what he means and he means what he says. It is one of the reasons why the world has seen a real restoration of american credibility. When the president made that decision, in just a few short that syria had crossed a redline using chemical weapons against innocent civilians, this president said, i mean what i said. He launched more than 50 cruise missiles, precision impact, as a response to that. The reason why you have seen the World Community rally around President Trumps call to isolate north korea economically and diplomatically on an increasing basis because they know this president means what he says. Mike what is misunderstood . What do we get wrong about President Trump . Vice pres. Pence i am biased. Well not know him very before he called and asked if i would be willing to be considered for this job. I met him twice. I think the world gets his mind and strength. President donald trump is a man with a big heart. He loves his family. When you travel across the country, people across this country get it. I think an awful lot of people in the media dont. That is because they sense his heart. Thissense his passion for country. When he talks about putting america first, they sense of patriotism that radiates out of him. It is like a set at the convention. You look at the family of his. The devotion to his family and his devotion of his family to him. I like what a farmer told me one time when i was being considered for this job. He said, one thing i can tell youabout your candidate is, cannot fake good kids. You look at these remarkable young people in a trump family. You sense that devotion. What i thinkbly people do not get as much as they should. I think there are an awful lot of people across this country who knew that this is a shoulderswith broad and a big heart. Mike how worried are you that special counsel muellers findings will touch the white house . Vice pres. Pence we have been fully cooperating. I can ensure you that we will continue to. It is not something that i spend a lot of time thinking about. Attorneys that i have directed to make sure that everything that should be provided is provided and appropriate and in a timely way. The president is focused on, and what i am focused on, every hour of every day, is advancing the agenda that we were elected to advance. I think this ordinary progress we have made in this country, just does not generally lead to the cable news, right . 18,000ck market was at when election day happened. It took off like a jackrabbit. I did not check it when i walked in this morning. Despite the ups and downs of recent days, we have seen when tremendous optimism around this country. Unemployment at a 17 year low. Employment isan at the lowest level ever recorded in american history. We see companies reinvesting in this country again. Bysee tremendous confidence businesses large and small. I do not think it got nearly enough attention. The bipartisan deal that the president helped drive last week delegates was destined a few weeks to increase military billion, to80 liftly and lastly with the caps that stifling our ability to meet all of our needs within our National Defense is next ordinary accomplishment. An extraordinary accomplishment. Story and sharing that with the American People, we are going to continue to see more growth and more opportunity. We will do a quick rapid round. What did you do on msnbc . [laughter] vice pres. Pence i heard about it. I did not see it. Say, criticism comes with this job. It is part of this job. Heard that abc has a program that compared my christianity to mental this. I would like to laugh about it but i really cannot. I am a believer. Like tens of millions of americans today who will have ash on there for heads to mark the beginning of lent, an overwhelming majority of americans cherish their faith. With all different kinds of faith in this country. Abcve to tell you, to have maintain a broadcast forum that compared christianity to mental mess illness is just wrong. But ton insult not to me the vast majority of the American People who cherish their faith. My christianity is the most important thing in my life. Day by to start every opening the good book. My wife and i try to have a prayer together before i leave every morning. I can honestly tell you my faith sustains me. It is a regular part of our lives. I am not unusual. I think i am a very typical american. Whatever your faith tradition, people understand that. How out of touch some of the Mainstream Media are with the faith and values of the American People. You can have a Major Network like abc permit a forum for infection against religion. I call them out on it. Not because of what was said about me. It is simply wrong. They had a Television Program that expresses that kind of religious intolerance. We are better than that. Our country is better than that. You are better than that. I would like to be lied about like about it, but i cannot. For the tens of millions of americans who cherish their faith. I cannot be silent. Mike penultimate question. We saw the budget this week. More privatization of the space race. Are you worried that this gives more power to other countries . Vice pres. Pence i serve a president who is all about going big, higher, further, faster. When he asked me to lead the National Space council i knew what our permit mission was. Nasa out ofnal this preoccupation with lower target. The president signed an executive directive to say, were going back to the moon. Were going back there soon. The National SpaceCouncil Meets next week. Is, whentunity we have dixie ordinary pride and investment in space expirations that is happening in the United States they. If you look at the commitment that we make through nasa and all of our official governmental investments. We think the way forward is to combine those two forces. We are looking at the regulation of spaces we can have more private Sector Investment to do the kinds of things that will develop space more effectively. Nasa to begin focusing on human space expiration. The truth of the matter is, the rubble inspired my youth. I will never forget the moment. I thought my whole life would be characterized by the next great exploration in space. The next great human expansion led by the United States of america. We all know, we lost our momentum. President trump once you get that back. He is charged us to bring together, not only public resources, focusingresources, fn space expiration, and going out and bringing together all of these extraordinary american oximeters that are developing the new spacecrafts of the future. We are going to make sure that america leads in space wanted in. My morningnow that newsletter always ends with one fun thing. You have a dog. It must be a ferocious beast. Vice pres. Pence he is a puppy. I got him on fathers day. We lost our old dog, maverick. He had been with us for 15 years. My wife said, our lives were going to be too busy to have a dog. We have to make do with a cat, his own. Hazel. And we have around it. A rabbit. It was fathers day when karen came in, showed me the new kitten. Harley came bouncing and. He is a black and white aussie. He is a whole lot of fun. I asked for a motorcycle. I got a puppy. I need to marley. Named him harley. Mike the motorcycle comes in in 2025 . Vice pres. Pence were working on it. Puppy first, harley second. Mike thank you for the conversation. [laughter] [applause] mike i would like to thank all of you for coming out in the middle of the day. Thanks to cspan for making this available to so many people. Thanks to bank of america for making these conversations possible. My amazing colleagues and all of my colleagues were here, thank you very much. Acioxios. Com. U on friday night former president ial candidate mitt romney speaks at the lincoln day dinner in utah. I live coverage starts at 9 00 eastern on cspan. Our live coverage of the savannah book festival starts at saturday morning at 9 00 eastern. Other Scott Shapiro with the internationalists with a radical plan to outlaw war and remake the world. Watch live coverage of the savanna book festival saturday morning serving a 9 00 eastern on cspans tv. Book tv. Sunday night q a. There was a public shaming. China lost a lot of face. It is hard for westerners to get an idea of what that means to the asian culture. Especially someone who is as big and crowd. Proud. Start setting themselves on this mindset, we will build up our navy and our Missile Defense forces. We never lose face like this again. Sunday night at 8 00 eastern on cspans q a. Senatordent trump and of South Carolina met in the with municipal officials and Business Leaders to talk about taxes and economic