Vice President JD Vance declined Monday to say whether he endorses Benjamin Netanyahu for re-election, sidestepping a question that split him from President Donald Trump’s full-throated backing of the Israeli prime minister.
Vance made the remarks in an interview with journalist Mark Halperin aboard Air Force Two. “I endorse American candidates, and that’s where I’m focused on is the midterm,” Vance said. “I’m not getting involved in Israeli elections.”
When pressed further, Vance said he was neither for nor against endorsing Netanyahu: “I’m not anti-endorsing him. I’m not pro-endorsing him. I’m not getting involved in Israeli elections.”
The split comes days before Israel’s election. Trump gave Netanyahu his endorsement Saturday, calling him a “Great Warrior Prime Minister” in a social media post. It marked a reversal: Trump had told Time earlier this month he was not involved in Israeli politics anymore.
Vance’s stance also sat awkwardly with his own record. He travelled to Budapest earlier this year to support Victor Orban ahead of his election, which the Hungarian prime minister lost.
The episode unfolded as US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth made an unannounced trip to Israel, meeting Monday evening with Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz, according to CNN.
Source: CNN
