Vice President JD Vance declined Monday to endorse Benjamin Netanyahu for reelection, a day after President Donald Trump endorsed the Israeli leader.
In an interview with journalist Mark Halperin while traveling to campaign for North Carolina Republican Senate nominee Michael Whatley, Vance said he endorses American candidates and is focused on the midterms, adding that he was not getting involved in Israeli elections. He also described Trump as holding the most influential endorsement in American or international political history.
Vance has previously backed a foreign leader, campaigning last spring for then-Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban before Orban’s party lost that country’s parliamentary election.
Last month, Vance addressed the Republican Jewish Coalition privately in Las Vegas, a leading GOP group that advocates for a strong U.S. relationship with Israel and against antisemitism, leaving a positive impression while stopping short of disavowing conservative podcast host Tucker Carlson.