Trump reportedly angry after being 'upstaged' by Mike Pence

Never one to lose the limelight, Donald Trump is reportedly none too pleased after Mike Pence's performance in the vice presidential debate Tuesday.

CNN and CNBC are among the outlets reporting that Trump was furious that Pence "upstaged" him. One senior advisor to the Republican presidential candidate told CNBC that "Pence won overall, but lost with Trump."

CNN’s John King, reporting from a source close to Trump, that the reviews that Pence did better then he did won’t go over well with Trump — Sam Stein (@samsteinhp) October 5, 2016 "I have never seen him so pissed off."



Actual quote from Trump tower. #VPDebate — The Reagan Battalion (@ReaganBattalion) October 5, 2016 Trump adviser on debate after Pence passed up opportunities to defend him: "Pence won overall, but lost with Trump" — John Harwood (@JohnJHarwood) October 5, 2016 more from adviser on Trump reaction to strong Pence debate following poor Trump showing last week: "he can't stand to be upstaged" — John Harwood (@JohnJHarwood) October 5, 2016

Pence notably avoided backing some of Trump's more outlandish claims and outright denied several of the things Trump has said in the past. At one point, Tim Kaine referenced Trump's admission that Russian leader Vladimir Putin is a "stronger" leader than President Obama.

"That is completely inaccurate," Pence said.

In fact, Trump recently said that Putin has been a leader "far more than our president."



Click ahead to see the best memes from the debate. Republican vice presidential nominee Mike Pence listens during the Vice Presidential Debate.

Click ahead to see the best memes from the debate. Republican vice presidential nominee Mike Pence listens during the Vice Presidential Debate. Photo: Chip Somodevilla, Getty Images Photo: Chip Somodevilla, Getty Images Image 1 of / 18 Caption Close Trump reportedly angry after being 'upstaged' by Mike Pence 1 / 18 Back to Gallery

MORE: In VP debate, Pence calmly parries Kaine's jabs at Trump

"If Tuesday night's vice-presidential debate was about Mike Pence helping Donald Trump right the ship in the 2016 presidential race, it was an abject failure," wrote the Washington Post. "But if it was about making Mike Pence look good — possibly for a future presidential run? — it was a success."

With that analysis coming out of the debate, it's hardly a surprise that Pence's boss is unhappy.

"He can't stand to be upstaged," a Trump advisor told CNBC.

Trump's campaign manager Kellyanne Conway refuted the reports of discontent on Wednesday, however, saying that Trump was "excited" and "proud" of Pence's performance.