Trump thrust his relationship with the vice president back into the spotlight last week, when the embattled president nudged reporters during a United Nations news conference to “ask for VP Pence’s conversation, because he had a couple conversations also” with Ukrainian officials.
The out-of-the-blue reference triggered questions about the vice president’s role in the latest mess and the unusual relationship between the pair of leaders. If Trump falls alone, Pence becomes the 46th president of the United States — a development many mainstream Republicans would prefer. If Trump and Pence go down together or in quick succession, it’s President Nancy Pelosi — a prospect that would not be lost on Senate Republicans voting on whether to oust their party’s leaders…
“He tends to flash this paranoia every now and then that Pence is after the job,” Lobianco said. “It’s like joking not-joking. But I was shocked that he was so out in the open this time.”…
A senior administration official dismissed the notion that Trump would throw Pence under the bus if he ever sensed disloyalty. “That is silly. It’s the opposite, meaning that [Pence’s] calls are fine, too,” the official said of Trump’s latest remark. “Think this through: POTUS and VP are gone and Pelosi becomes president? Please.”
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