Rep. Randy Fine, R-Fla., has accused Vice President JD Vance of anti-Semitism, stating that Vance's recent online analysis of the midterm election losses amounted to blaming Jewish people for the Republican Party's underperformance. Fine, who is Jewish, said he would no longer support Vance for any presidential aspirations in 2028 due to the remarks.
"He blamed the Jews for losing the election," Fine stated in an interview with Fox News. He likened Vance's analysis to rhetoric from "1932 Germany," calling the message "abhorrent."
Vance's post-election analysis, which aimed to explain why Republicans lost control of the House and Senate, identified four key factors that disillusioned voters wanted to see from the GOP: ending the war in Iran, focusing on the cost of living, prioritizing "America First," and changing the U.S.-Israel relationship. Vance wrote that "Our voters showed up. And the above four reasons are why many of them voted for Democrats."
Fine interpreted Vance's points, particularly the focus on ending the Iran war and altering the U.S.-Israel relationship, as implicitly blaming Jewish people. "What does America First mean when you've said, ‘end the war’ and ‘change our relationship with Israel?’ Isn't that saying the same thing?" Fine asked. He asserted that the connection between Israel and the Jewish people is central to Jewish identity.
Fine also drew a distinction between Vance's comments and former President Trump's stance on the Iran conflict. He noted Trump's statements suggesting he would have pursued the war again, citing the need to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons. Fine expressed doubt that Vance shared this concern.
Vance's office declined to comment on Fine's accusations. Fine, a vocal supporter of Israel, has previously introduced pro-Israel legislation and advocated for policies such as recognizing the Muslim Brotherhood as a terrorist organization. He urged Republicans to identify the true reasons for electoral failures and not to scapegoat Israel or its allies.