Trump breaks with Pence on Syria: 'I disagree'

Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump said Sunday night that he disagrees with his running mate's views on Syria.

Trump was asked what he would do about the humanitarian crisis in Aleppo, the hotbed of the Syrian crisis, during the second 2016 presidential debate Sunday night when moderator Martha Raddatz reminded the Manhattan businessman of Indiana Gov. Mike Pence's own comments.

Donald Trump, 2016 Republican presidential nominee, stands during the second U.S. presidential debate at Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri. (Getty Images/Daniel Acker)

Raddatz said:

He said provocations by Russia need to be met by American strength and that if Russia continues to be involved in airstrikes along with the Syrian government forces of Assad, the United States of America should be prepared to use military force to strike the military targets of the Assad regime.

"He and I haven't spoken, and I disagree," Trump responded. "I think you have to knock out ISIS."

Trump did not agree with using U.S. military forces to strike targets of Syrian President Bashar Assad as he contended that the U.S. should worry about the Islamic State before getting "too involved" in Syria.

"I don't like Assad at all, but Assad is killing ISIS," Trump said from the debate stage at Washington University in St. Louis. "Russia is killing ISIS, and Iran is killing ISIS. And those three have now lined up because of our weak foreign policy."

Trump continued to say that Aleppo "basically has fallen" already and labeled it a humanitarian "disaster."

During the sole vice presidential debate last week, Pence called on the U.S. to "begin to exercise strong leadership" when it comes to the Syrian crisis to "protect the vulnerable citizens."

"I just have to tell you that the provocations by Russia need to be met by American strength, and if Russia chooses to continue to be involved on this barbaric attack on civilians in Aleppo, the United States of America should be prepared to use military force to strike military targets of the Assad regime to prevent them from this humanitarian crisis that is taking place in Aleppo," Pence said then.

"We just have to have American strength on the world stage," he continued.

Pence also referred to Russian President Vladimir Putin as the country's "small and bullying leader" during the debate; Trump has called Putin a strong leader.

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