Debate between Clinton and Trump Vice Presidents; Kaine and Pence Discuss Nuclear Agreement

Mike Pence, the running mate of Donald Trump, and Tim Kaine, the running mate of Hillary Clinton, held their only face-to-face debate related to the presidential election on November 8. Pence, 57, is the governor of Indiana, while Kaine, 58, is a senator from Virginia. Both sides focused their main efforts on defending their respective candidates, Mrs. Clinton and Mr. Trump, and criticizing each other. This debate took place at Longwood University in Farmville, Virginia. The questioning method was somewhat similar to the first presidential debate between Clinton and Trump, although both sides frequently diverted the discussion from the main questions to issues such as the release of tax returns or reports on tax evasion. A part of the debate was dedicated to the topic of the nuclear agreement with Iran. Tim Kaine, like Hillary Clinton, supported the nuclear agreement with Tehran and the six world powers, considering it beneficial for global security and U.S. domestic security. According to Mrs. Clinton's running mate, this agreement ended Iran's military nuclear program without a shot being fired. However, Mike Pence, echoing Donald Trump, criticized this agreement, emphasizing that the JCPOA does not guarantee the security of the United States. He stated that a bad deal was signed with Iran, and later, $1.7 billion was given to Tehran as 'ransom' to release American prisoners. Such a thing is not a point of pride. Pence referred to the money that the Obama administration paid for a suspended arms deal and its interest after the release of dual-national prisoners following the nuclear agreement. Washington has denied allegations of 'paying ransom' to Iran. The candidates also addressed foreign policy issues such as Russia, the Syrian civil war, North Korea's nuclear tests, and threats from terrorism. Kaine repeatedly pointed out Trump's remarks, emphasizing that the Republican candidate has praised Vladimir Putin, the President of Russia. Pence also mentioned that it was during Hillary Clinton's time that Russia invaded Crimea in Ukraine. He also stated that Iran, which according to Trump's deputy is the primary supporter of terrorism, collaborates with Russia, and Russia has deployed a missile defense system in Syria. Mike Pence has supported potential attacks against Syrian army positions. Like Pence, Kaine defended the idea of creating a safe zone for civilians in Syria while reminding that Trump has always praised Putin, and even his former campaign chairman stepped down due to his closeness to Moscow. Tim Kaine and Mike Pence also discussed the topic of refugees and immigrants. Regarding U.S. domestic security, Kaine supported the idea of obtaining background checks for individuals regardless of the country they come from, stating that Clinton wants to implement extensive reforms in the U.S. immigration system. Pence, on the other hand, stated that illegal immigrants who have committed offenses or overstayed their visas should be removed, and then the immigration system and policies should be reformed. The debate between Clinton and Trump's vice presidents was the first and last of its kind and lasted 90 minutes; the moderator of the debate, Elaine Quijano, was the first Asian-American moderator of a presidential election debate in the United States. The discussions took place without commercial breaks and in a calm atmosphere. The audience maintained silence throughout the debate, and after it, Kaine and Pence approached them. Both politicians also spent moments together with their family members, exchanging casual conversations.