Vance Stays Out of Israeli Vote as Trump Backs Netanyahu

U.S. Vice President JD Vance declined to endorse Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ahead of Israel’s election next week, while President Donald Trump publicly backed Netanyahu’s reelection bid. Vance said he was focused on American candidates and wouldn’t get involved in Israel’s election.

Two different approaches

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

Vance said his position wasn’t criticism of Netanyahu. “I'm not anti-endorsing him. I'm not pro-endorsing him,” he said. “I'm not getting involved in Israeli elections.” His comments came after Trump used Truth Social on Sunday to praise Netanyahu, 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.” He is the country’s longest-serving prime minister. Next week’s election will be Israel’s first national election since Hamas attacked Israel in late 2023.

Vance’s record of foreign endorsements

Vance has stepped into foreign political contests before. In April, he campaigned in Budapest and publicly endorsed then-Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s reelection bid. Voters later removed Orban from office after 16 years in power.

Last year, Vance met Alice Weidel, leader of Germany’s far-right Alternative for Germany party, during a security conference in Munich. Elon Musk was also boosting the party at the time, according to the account of Vance’s meeting and the political context surrounding it.

Those earlier actions contrast with Vance’s stated refusal to take a position on Netanyahu’s reelection. In the interview, he separated his endorsements of American candidates from the Israeli contest and said his attention was on the midterms. He didn’t criticize Trump’s public support for Netanyahu.

Israel debate and U.S. support

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. The account gives no figures for the decline in support and identifies no specific causes beyond that debate.

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 stands alongside his current refusal to endorse Netanyahu: Vance has spoken about Israel’s international position, but says he isn’t entering the Israeli election. Trump, by contrast, has explicitly endorsed Netanyahu in public and praised his partnership on Iran.

The difference is clear. Trump has backed Netanyahu’s reelection; Vance has declined, despite his earlier public endorsement of Orban in Hungary. Israel’s national vote is scheduled for next week.