Donald Trump was making a point about the choice African-American voters face in the fall when he tweeted Saturday about the fatal shooting of NBA star Dwyane Wade's cousin, the Republican presidential nominee's running mate said Sunday.

Trump drew backlash on Saturday after tweeting, "Dwayne [sic] Wade's cousin was just shot and killed walking her baby in Chicago. Just what I have been saying. African-Americans will VOTE TRUMP!" Nykea Aldridge, 32, was caught in crossfire while leaving a school on Friday afternoon.

"The truth of the matter is Donald Trump is laying out in short form — in that tweet of 140 characters — that we have a choice to make as a country," Indiana Gov. Mike Pence told CNN's Jake Tapper on Sunday. "We can continue with the leadership that has left us with dangerous streets, failing schools [and] no jobs, or we can go with someone who is committed to educational choice for minority families and families across this country, committed to law and order and standing by our law enforcement community, committed to bringing jobs and hope to every American regardless of race and creed and color," he said.

"Donald Trump has a plain-spoken way about him and the tragedy of the mother of a child on the streets of Chicago being shot and killed as Nykea Aldridge was just breaks my heart," Pence said. "It's just unimaginable."

Pence also defended the Trump campaign's hiring of former Breitbart News chief executive Steve Bannon, who came under fire last week over divorce documents that showed he made anti-Semitic comments during fights with his ex-wife nearly a decade ago.

"I know Steve Bannon has denied those charges. I know he enjoys a very strong relationship with his ex-wife and their kids," Pence said.

He added, "I also know one other thing: the media loves to chase after these process stories, these staff stories, but when I'm traveling across the country, the American people are focused on real issues."