GOP group hits Pence over Trump alleged business conflicts

An anti-Trump Republican group is targeting Vice President Pence with a new ad, calling him out for hypocrisy and complacency with President Trump’s alleged business conflicts.

The new ad from Republicans for the Rule of Law cuts together remarks Pence made criticizing 2016 Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton’s alleged business conflicts to argue he is being hypocritical over Trump. 

{mosads}“When it comes to Hillary Clinton, Vice President Pence believes ‘it would be a conflict of interest to accept foreign and corporate donations to your foundation if you were president,’” the add says, using Pence’s own words. 

“When it comes to President Trump’s conflicts of interests, all Mike Pence has to say is, ‘Who cares?’” it continues. 

The ad takes note of foreign leaders staying at hotels owned by Trump, among other issues, to suggest Trump could be profiting off the presidency.

The ad is set to air Thursday on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe,” which is hosted by pundits and journalists the president has often feuded with, according to USA Today. 

Bill Kristol, a prominent member of the group who frequently criticizes Trump, said the ad is part of a “larger campaign to focus on corruption in the Trump administration.”

This ad from Republicans for the Rule of Law is up on the air–part of a larger campaign to focus on corruption in the Trump administration. There’s always been corruption in our politics, but usually as a bug, not a feature. Corruption is a Trump administration feature. pic.twitter.com/gL7aoUr7nl

— Bill Kristol (@BillKristol) September 19, 2019

“There’s always been corruption in our politics, but usually as a bug, not a feature. Corruption is a Trump administration feature,” he tweeted, sharing the ad. 

Earlier this month, Republicans for the Rule of Law targeted Trump ally Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C) and his shifting rhetoric on holding Russia accountable for interfering in the 2016 election, as laid out in former special counsel Robert Mueller’s report.