The Vice Presidential debate between Mike Pence and Tim Kaine was not quite the explosive encounter of last week, but there was an elephant in the room that kept things entertaining. An elephant that was tweeting his observations from afar.

As Trump retweeted all and sundry during the evening, Kaine was busy firing off attacks about the Republican presidential candidate to his running mate Mike Pence.

Pence's strategy seemed to be to pretend nothing Kaine said about Trump was true. As Kaine's constant references to Trump's tweets, quotes and gaffes continued it became more and more uncomfortable viewing.

Here's an example from later on in the debate, when Kaine reminded the audience that Trump once said women who seek abortion should face "some sort of punishment."

Pence shakes head when Kaine brings up Trump's punishment-for-abortion comments #VPDebate pic.twitter.com/fC2Uf0fuKT — Mashable News (@MashableNews) October 5, 2016

And another, when Kaine was reminding the audience of Trump's comments on Alicia Machado's weight, his comments on African-Americans and his birtherism attacks on Obama.

Pence shakes his head as Kaine recounts Trump insults #VPDebate pic.twitter.com/xXy62R3BML — Mashable News (@MashableNews) October 5, 2016

Pence's head shaking, bemused approach did not go unnoticed on Twitter.

PENCE: [Scoffs] Who is this "Donald Trump" of which you speak? Even if he exists, I'm sure he didn't say what you said. #VPDebate — Chris Taylor (@FutureBoy) October 5, 2016

I am getting a kick out of Mike Pence constantly saying Trump didn't say things that he's literally said like five times. #VPDebate — Fortune Feimster (@fortunefunny) October 5, 2016

Pence's go-to move:

1. Shake head as Kaine quotes Trump

2. Accuse Kaine of "insults" for quoting Trump

3. Change topic off Trump's quotes — Brian Fallon (@brianefallon) October 5, 2016

Newsflash to Pence: a head shake isn't an actual defense of Trump's indefensible positions. — Max Boot (@MaxBoot) October 5, 2016

Mike Pence is gonna be pretty upset when he learns that Trump indeed said all the things he's claiming he didn't. #VPDebate — Secular Talk (@KyleKulinski) October 5, 2016

Mike Pence continually shaking his head was a great metaphor of the entire GOP pretending like they're not running a white nationalist. — Taniel (@Taniel) October 5, 2016

Every time Kaine says something true about Trump, Pence denies it. I can read lips: Pence keeps mumbling “Lord Jesus forgive me!” #VPDebate — Mrs. Betty Bowers (@BettyBowers) October 5, 2016

Kaine hammering Mike Pence on his inability to defend Trump. Pence simply denies Trump said the things we've all heard him say #VPDebate — Richard Hine (@richardhine) October 5, 2016

Mike Pence claiming that Trump supports our troops and veterans when he insults them and probably doesn't pay taxes is laughable. #VPDebate — Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) October 5, 2016

"If Donald Trump had said all of the things you said he said ... he wouldn't have a fraction of the insults that Hillary Clinton leveled," Pence said at one point, around about the time Trump retweeted someone who said Kaine looks like a Batman villain.

Mike Pence seems to deny that Trump is running an insult-driven campaign compared to Hillary Clinton #VPDebate pic.twitter.com/bY3mNvr2Ce — Mashable News (@MashableNews) October 5, 2016

Some observers noted that Pence's consistent dismissal of Kaine's Trump attacks might play into the hands of his opposition when it comes to future attack ads.

It sort of works in the debate, but Pence shaking head, saying "no he hasn't" is going to look bad in ads next to Trump saying those things — Ezra Klein (@ezraklein) October 5, 2016

Others, meanwhile, thought that Pence's strategy would be well used by Republicans if (or when) Trump is defeated in November.