Vice President Mike Pence called out the Obama administration's inaction on Iran protests years ago but commended President Donald Trump's decision to side with current government protesters in a new opinion piece.
Writing for The Washington Post, Pence referenced the "Green Revolution" that saw Iranian citizens protesting their government in 2009 and how they compare to the current protests happening in the Islamic republic that have resulted in more than 20 deaths.
"Those brave protesters looked to the leader of the free world for support. But as I saw first hand as a member of Congress, the president of the United States stayed silent," Pence wrote.
"In the wake of the demonstrations and the regime's brutal attempts to suppress them, President Barack Obama repeatedly failed to express America's solidarity with the Iranian protesters. As a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, I recognized the lack of action for what it was: an abdication of American leadership."
Pence argued Obama's decision not to speak up eight and a half years ago — which may have been due to the Iran nuclear deal that was being negotiated at the time — helped embolden Iran's government to put a stop to the protests.
"Today, the Iranian people are once again rising up to demand freedom and opportunity, and under President Trump, the United States is standing with them," Pence wrote. "This time, we will not be silent."
Pence also urged other world leaders to stand with the U.S. to support the protesters taking to the streets because of Iran's struggling economy and human rights issues.
Pence tweeted Monday the Trump administration will not make the same mistake as Obama did.
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