Trump Backs Netanyahu as Vance Holds Back

U.S. Vice President JD Vance declined to endorse Benjamin Netanyahu’s reelection bid, even after President Donald Trump publicly backed the Israeli prime minister ahead of an election scheduled for next week. Vance said he was focused on American candidates and wouldn’t get involved in Israeli elections.

In an interview on Mark Halperin's 2WAY Tonight, published Monday, Vance called Trump’s endorsement unusually powerful. “The president has the most effective endorsement in American or international political history,” he said. Then he drew a boundary around his own political support: “I endorse American candidates, and that's where I'm focused on in the midterms.”

Two U.S. Political Positions

Vance said his refusal to endorse Netanyahu wasn’t a criticism of him. “I'm not anti-endorsing him. I'm not pro-endorsing him,” Vance said. “I'm not getting involved in Israeli elections.” His comments set him apart from Trump’s direct intervention in the campaign, while leaving the president’s public backing unchallenged in the interview.

Trump praised Netanyahu on Truth Social on Sunday, calling him “a Great Warrior Prime Minister, and an even greater Partner for Peace in combating the Islamic Republic of Iran.” Netanyahu thanked Trump in a social media post for his “tremendous support and work together.” Netanyahu is the country’s longest-serving prime minister.

The exchange put the two U.S. political figures’ roles in the upcoming Israeli vote in public view: Trump offered an endorsement, while Vance declined to make one. The base account contains no details about campaign financing, economic policy, worker organizations, or proposed reforms, and identifies no unions or protest movements involved in the election.

A Record of Foreign Political Involvement

Vance has campaigned in a foreign election before. In April, he traveled to Budapest and publicly endorsed then-Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s reelection bid. Orban was later voted out after 16 years in power. That earlier endorsement contrasts with Vance’s stated decision not to take a position in Netanyahu’s election.

Last year, during a security conference in Munich, Vance met Alice Weidel, leader of Germany’s far-right Alternative for Germany party. Elon Musk was also boosting the party at the time, according to the account. The report cites the meeting and Budapest campaign as earlier examples of Vance’s participation in foreign politics.

The Vote and U.S. Support

The Israeli election will be the first national election since Hamas attacked Israel in late 2023. U.S. public support for Israel, historically strong among Republicans and Democrats, has fallen sharply. Debate in the United States has intensified over the Netanyahu-led government’s response to the Hamas attack.

In June, Vance said Israel had almost no friends left in the world and should think hard before turning on the one it has. His earlier comment addressed Israel’s international support; his latest remarks focused on whether he’d endorse Netanyahu. The account describes Trump’s praise, Netanyahu’s thanks, and Vance’s refusal, but doesn’t report any change to U.S. policy or any action by the Israeli government in response.