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Donald Trump, Mike Pence's old boss, and a potential primary opponent have all been outmaneuvered by the former Vice President over the past week.

The private jet of the GOP's most prized donor, Miriam Adelson, was used to fly Vice President Mike Pence to Israel after the plane Trump was on was forced to make an emergency landing. While Trump dodged criticism of Russian President Putin in a call-in interview with Fox News host Sean Hannity, the vice president and his wife traveled to the border between Ukraine and Poland to distribute relief aid to refugees.

Ukrainian refugees walk on a bridge at the buffer zone with the border with Poland in western Ukraine.
Ukrainian refugees on a bridge at the buffer zone with the Polish border on March 6. (Daniel Leal/AFP via Getty Images)

In perhaps the most telling sign that the political dynamic between the two men has changed, Vice President Mike Pence hit Donald Trump at a Republican National Committee speech last Friday.

Michael Cohen, who has no relation to the former Trump lawyer, welcomed to the front end of the boomlet. It's not even close.

When Putin launched his invasion of Ukraine, he resolidified the old Western alliances that were formed in the wake of World War II, as well as shaking up the Republican Party's power dynamics.

After six years of almost controlling the national stage, Trump has been struggling to get attention for himself. The vacuum created by Trump's absence has been filled by the man who is best known for being stiff, boring and deferential to the former president.

In an interview with one of Trump's favorite hosts, Maria Bartiromo, Pence made news by grabbing prime slots on Fox News. Bartiromo asked if he would run against Trump if he entered the race. The questions were brushed away by Pence.

At the right time, my family and I will reflect and consider how we might participate in that process, because I am confident that the Republican Party will nominate a candidate who will be the next president of the United States of America.

Former Vice President Mike Pence gestures during a speech at the Advancing Freedom Lecture Series at Stanford University.
Former Vice President Mike Pence speaks during the Advancing Freedom Lecture Series at Stanford University on Feb. 17. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

After more than a year of laying groundwork behind the scenes, the burst of attention for Pence comes after he made campaign-style trips to early-voting states like New Hampshire and Iowa.

Despite his popularity with the Republican grassroots, a number of GOP lawmakers are considering runs of their own. All of them are trying to develop their own unique brands, whether through Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis's culture-war broadsides or Arkansas Sen. Tom Cotton's appeal to unite the pre- and post- Trump wings of the GOP.

Despite his public falling out with Trump, his backers see him as a uniquely suited figure to bring the warring groups of the GOP together. He became a member of the House Republican caucus after being elected to Congress. In 2012 Indiana voters elected him governor, a position he left to become Trump's running mate and shore up his conservative credentials.

Since the Capitol insurrection in which Trump-backed rioters threatened to hang Pence for not helping the president overturn the 2020 election results, he has been slowly and steadily hitting the campaign trail. A spokesman for the vice president did not respond to a request for comment.

Pro-Trump protesters gather in front of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.
Pro-Trump protesters gather in front of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. (Jon Cherry/Getty Images)

The real break in the dam was almost immediately after Putin launched his invasion of Ukraine. Trump and his backers, who just days earlier had praised Putin, suddenly looked outdated and out of touch with the GOP.

Scott Reed, who ran Bob Dole's campaign for president in 1996, said that the McCain wing of the GOP is stronger than ever.

Republican operatives are still trying to figure out if the turn from Trump-style populism is permanent or just a passing fad.

I think Americans don't want U.S. troops over there, and a lot don't want to send money there.

Pence is doing the same thing he has always done, waiting for his moments to grab the attention of the public.

What happened this week in Ukraine? Check out this explainer from Yahoo Immersive to find out.

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