JD Vance Declines to Endorse Netanyahu, Cites Focus on Midterms

Vice President JD Vance on Monday declined to endorse Israeli President Benjamin Netanyahu for reelection, a day after President Donald Trump offered his support for the Israeli leader.

Vance stated that his focus is on supporting American candidates in the upcoming midterm elections. "I endorse American candidates, and that’s where I’m focused on the midterms," Vance said during an interview while traveling to campaign for Republican Senate nominee Michael Whatley in North Carolina. "So, I’m not getting involved in Israeli elections."

Vance's comments come at a sensitive time for U.S.-Israel relations and for Jewish Americans, amid rising concerns about antisemitism. Republicans have sought to highlight perceived Democratic stances on Israel and antisemitism as a point of contrast heading into the midterms, while also navigating their own internal divisions.

This is not the first time Vance has campaigned for a foreign leader. Last spring, he endorsed then-Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban before Orban's party lost that country's parliamentary election.

Vance has faced some skepticism from Jewish Republicans regarding his commitment to Jewish Americans and the U.S. alliance with Israel. He recently addressed the Republican Jewish Coalition, a prominent GOP group advocating for a strong U.S. relationship with Israel and opposition to antisemitism. Vance reportedly left a positive impression on the audience during his private remarks in Las Vegas, although he did not disavow conservative podcast host Tucker Carlson.

Vance has previously drawn scrutiny for his association with Carlson, who faced backlash for interviewing antisemite Nick Fuentes. In earlier statements, Vance had criticized members of the Israeli government for opposing Trump's efforts to resolve a war with Iran and suggested that elements within the Israeli government had attempted to influence American public opinion to prolong the conflict.