Pence says Americans are 'safer today' following Soleimani's death

(Image credit: Screenshot/YouTube/CBS Evening News)

Vice President Mike Pence applauded President Trump on Wednesday night, saying Americans can "rest easier tonight" because of his leadership.

In an interview with Norah O'Donnell on CBS Evening News, Pence discussed Tuesday's Iranian missile attacks against Iraqi bases housing U.S. troops. He said Trump proved his strength in the wake of the event and praised the "extraordinary and courageous professionalism that our military demonstrated over the last several weeks."

Iran's attacks were in response to the death of Iranian Maj. Gen. Qassem Soleimani, who was killed last week in an airstrike authorized by Trump. Soleimani was the commander of the Quds Force, and the Trump administration has said, without providing evidence, that he was plotting "imminent" attacks against U.S. interests. Pence told O'Donnell he believes "we are safer today than before President Trump ordered our military to take out Qassem Soleimani. This was a man who had been leading a terrorist state sponsored organization in the region, sowing violence. What our commander-in-chief demonstrated is we have a president who is willing to use American military might to protect American lives."Catherine Garcia

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Catherine Garcia has worked as a senior writer at The Week since 2014. Her writing and reporting have appeared in Entertainment Weekly, The New York Times, Wirecutter, NBC News and "The Book of Jezebel," among others. She's a graduate of the University of Redlands and the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.