Pence: Proud the Trump administration did not start any wars

"I'm proud to report with just a few days left in our Administration, our Administration is the first in decades that did not get America into a new war. That's Peace through Strength."

Pence made the statement when he was visiting troops at New York's Fort Drum, which is north of Syracuse, near the Canadian border. Pence said that this was his final speech as Vice President, according to North Country Public Radio.

He thanked the 10th Mountain Division, which has deployed to past administrations' wars in Afghanistan and Iraq 46 times since Sept. 11, 2001. Troops from this division are still serving in Afghanistan today.

"Your mission in Afghanistan has been vital to the security of the American people," Pence said. "There’s never been a day gone by that I and every American hasn’t been grateful to the 10th Mountain Division and every American hero in uniform."

Trump's military legacy will be one of deescalation. Writing in Forbes, Loren Thompson said: "Trump has done more in four years to shift the vector of U.S. military preparations than most presidents accomplish in eight. The fact that he did this while the nation was at peace is remarkable. The fact that he often did not know the details of how his defense strategy was being implemented is beside the point (few presidents do)," Thompson wrote.

As he departs the White House, Trump has planned substantial troop removals from Iraq and Afghanistan, and is the first president since President Jimmy Carter in the 1970s to not begin an international conflict.

"As President Trump prepares to exit the White House, it is important to see his military legacy clearly, because for better or worse, it is the foundation on which his successor will have to build," Thompson said.

Thompson went on to say that "Trump is the first president in decades who did not commit the nation to new overseas military campaigns. He shared with President Obama an aversion to such adventures, but Obama launched an Afghan troop surge (2009), an intervention in Libya (2011), a return of forces to Iraq (2014), and a U.S. military role in the Syrian civil war (2014)."

Pence is right to take pride in such a formidable achievement of peace. Newsweek reported in November that "Donald Trump's military record stands apart from other modern American presidents." Trump wanted "to put a stop to America's endless wars," and with consistent troop reductions in foreign theatres of war, he did so.

Pence also took a moment to thank the recently controversial Congresswoman Elise Stefanik, who has come under fire for continuing to defend President Trump. She represents New York's 21st District and is in her third term.

Pence noted the increased military spending, and the recent National Defense Authorization Act, which contained pay increases for troops. He thanked Stefanik for her role as well.

"None of that would have been possible without the strong support of Congresswoman Elise Stefanik on the Armed Service Committee in the House of Representatives," Pence said. "Would you join me in thanking Congresswoman Stefanik for her strong support for Fort Drum and our Armed Forces."