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“The president has the most influential endorsement in American
or international political history,” Vance said during an
interview with journalist Mark Halperin.
“I endorse American candidates, and that’s where I’m focused on
the midterms,” Vance said, while traveling Monday to campaign
for Republican Senate nominee Michael Whatley of North Carolina.
“So, I’m not getting involved in Israeli elections.”
Vance has campaigned for a foreign leader — then-Hungarian Prime
Minister Viktor Orban, last spring before the right-wing
leader’s party lost that country's parliamentary election.
Vance’s deference to Trump on Netanyahu comes at an
extraordinarily sensitive time for Jewish Americans and the U.S.
alliance with Israel. Concerns about antisemitism have surged
across the political spectrum ahead of the midterm elections.
Republicans have been eager to portray Democrats, notably
Michigan Democratic Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed, as hostile
toward Jews and Israel, while they deal with their own internal
schisms.
Vance has faced skepticism from Jewish Republicans about his
commitment to Jewish Americans and the U.S. alliance with
Israel.
Last month, Vance spoke privately in Las Vegas to the Republican
Jewish Coalition, a leading GOP group committed to advocating
for a strong U.S. relationship with Israel and against
antisemitism.
Vance left a positive impression on his RJC audience while
stopping short of disavowing influential conservative podcast
host Tucker Carlson.
Vance has faced general questions about his association with
Carlson, a former Fox News host who faced backlash last year for
interviewing antisemite Nick Fuentes on his podcast.
In June, Vance sharply criticized members of Israel’s government
for opposing Trump’s efforts to resolve the war with Iran.
In July, Vance said elements of the Israeli government had tried
to influence American sentiment to derail negotiations.
“There are some people within their system that we know beyond a
shadow of a doubt are manipulating and trying to change American
public opinion to keep the war going on indefinitely,” Vance
said during an appearance on Joe Rogan’s podcast.
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