Former Vice President Mike Pence said over the weekend that he views communist China as the top threat that the United States faces.

Pence made the remarks during a Sunday interview with CNN’s Jake Tapper on “State of the Union” when asked about former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley’s recent comments that she believes China is an enemy of the U.S.

“China is the greatest economic and strategic threat facing the United States in the 21st century. And I was proud to lead during our administration on changing our national policy toward China,” Pence said. “In fact, I’m returning the first of this week to Hudson Institute, where, about five years ago, I gave that first speech.”

“I mean, look, we sent a message to China after years of trade abuses, intellectual property theft, military provocations in the Asia-Pacific, let alone human rights abuses against Muslim Uyghurs and Christian pastors in China, that enough was enough,” he continued. “We put $250 billion in tariffs on China. And while the Biden administration hasn’t undone those tariffs yet, to be honest with you, we should have been increasing the pressure as we see even more aggressive behavior by China.”

“But if I’m president of the United States, we’re going to meet this moment with American strength,” he concluded. “We’re going to limit China’s access to our economy until they straighten up and fly right and live by the rules of the road in international trade. And we’re going to build a 355-ship Navy. I believe we can eclipse the Chinese navy in the Asia-Pacific, because, ultimately, peace and prosperity comes through strength.”

WATCH:

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis said over the weekend that Republican members of the House of Representatives should do what they promised to do when they campaigned and not worry about what the Democrat-controlled U.S. Senate might be willing to accept.

DeSantis made the remarks during a Fox News interview on Sunday with Howard Kurtz on “Media Buzz.”

“Well, here’s what I would just recommend they do. They campaigned on certain things. Our voters did give them the House — not by big majorities, but they give it to them,” he said. “So just do what you say you’re going to do. The Senate can do what they’re going to do. I understand that there’s to be negotiations after that. But what I don’t think they should do is say, ‘oh, well, you know, the Senate won’t accept what we’re going to do, so we’re not going to do what we believe in.'”

“Do what you believe in because the country is going insolvent, and they’ve got to show a better way,” he continued. “And even if they don’t ultimately succeed on everything, at least they put the flag in the ground and showed, after 2024, if we have unified Republican control, we have a path to get this nation back to fiscal sanity. And part of it is the dollars and cents, but the debt — I mean, you’ve covered it, how much the debt has gone up just in the last five or six years. And it is under both parties, 100%.”

ICYMI: DeSantis pushed the House GOP to hold firm on spending

“They campaigned on certain things, our voters did give them the House…so just do what you say you’re gonna do!”

“Do what you believe in, because the country is going insolvent” pic.twitter.com/FYp0FAKc4H

— John Hasson (@SonofHas) September 17, 2023

DeSantis later signaled that he did support the House’s impeachment inquiry into President Joe Biden, saying: “The corruption is really, really troubling when you have that many millions of dollars flowing into his family’s coffers.”

“They are totally within their right to do it,” he continued. “I mean, look, we could sit here and talk about the proper role of the impeachment, but they opened this on Trump based on a phone call to Ukraine. There’s way more evidence for this one, and they’ve got a lot of investigatory work to do, but I think they should pursue it.”

DeSantis comes out in favor of the impeachment inquiry:

“The corruption is really, really troubling”

“They opened this on Trump based on a phone call…there’s WAY more evidence for this one.” pic.twitter.com/r6ILGSGeQ9

— John Hasson (@SonofHas) September 17, 2023