JD Vance declines to endorse Netanyahu after Trump backs his reelection
The vice president said he was staying out of Israel’s election and focusing on U.S. midterm candidates, a day after Trump backed Netanyahu.
U.S. Vice President JD Vance declined to endorse Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for reelection in an interview on Monday, October 19, saying he would stay out of Israel’s election and focus on U.S. midterm candidates. President Donald Trump had publicly backed Netanyahu the previous day, ahead of Israel’s October 27 parliamentary election.
“I’m not anti-endorsing him; I’m not pro-endorsing him,” Vance told journalist Mark Halperin, according to NBC News and AFP. “I’m not getting involved in Israeli elections.” His answer addressed whether he would personally join Trump in backing Netanyahu, who is seeking another term as prime minister.
“I endorse American candidates, and that’s where I’m focused on the midterms,” Vance said in the Halperin interview, according to the Associated Press. He made the remarks while traveling to campaign for Michael Whatley, the Republican Senate nominee in North Carolina. The campaign trip put Vance’s stated priority into practice as he discussed the Israeli vote.
Trump’s endorsement before Israel’s October 27 election
Trump endorsed Netanyahu on Sunday, October 18, AFP reported. Vance acknowledged the president’s influence during his interview, saying, “The president has the most influential endorsement in American or international political history,” according to the Associated Press. Vance nevertheless said he would leave the decision on Israel’s election to others and concentrate on the U.S. midterms.
Vance’s earlier campaign for Viktor Orbán
Vance has previously campaigned in a foreign election. He supported then-Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán before Orbán’s party lost Hungary’s parliamentary election, the Associated Press and NBC News reported. That history gives context to his statement that he endorses American candidates, although he did not present the Hungary campaign as an explanation for his decision on Netanyahu.
NBC News reported that Vance also said in Monday’s interview he had not decided whether to run for president in 2028. He said he believed Trump would endorse him if he entered that race. His comments on a possible U.S. presidential bid were separate from his decision to stay out of Israel’s parliamentary contest.
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Sources and context
- JD Vance declines to endorse Netanyahu for reelection, says he's focusing on midtermsPBS NewsHour; Associated Press report by Thomas Beaumont
- Vance declines to endorse Netanyahu after Trump offers full support for re-electionNBC News; reporting by Raquel Coronell Uribe and Chantal Da Silva
- US VP Vance says he is staying out of Israel vote as Trump backs NetanyahuDawn; AFP dispatch
AI-assisted article checked against the listed sources. NewsJaws did not conduct interviews or attend the reported events.