Vance declines to join Trump in endorsing Netanyahu as Hegseth reportedly visits Israel

Vice President JD Vance on Oct. 19 declined to join President Donald Trump in endorsing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ahead of Israel’s Oct. 27 parliamentary elections, saying his focus is on the U.S. midterms.

His comments came just a day after Trump publicly backed Netanyahu as the Israeli leader, and as War Secretary Pete Hegseth reportedly made an unannounced visit to Israel for talks with the prime minister. 

During an interview aboard Air Force Two, journalist Mark Halperin asked Vance whether he would endorse Netanyahu’s reelection bid. 

“The President has the most effective endorsement in American or international political history,” Vance replied. “I endorse American candidates and that’s where I’m focused on, is the midterms, so I’m not getting involved in the Israeli elections.”

“I’m not anti-endorsing him. I’m not pro-endorsing him,” he added.

Trump had thrown what he described as his “Complete and Total Endorsement” behind Netanyahu in an Oct. 18 Truth Social post, calling him a “Great Warrior Prime Minister” and an “even greater Partner for Peace in combating the Islamic Republic of Iran,” as Zeale News previously reported.

Vance previously addressed differences between U.S. and Israeli interests during a June interview with Fox News host Jesse Watters. 

“The Israelis and I, excuse me, the Israelis and the United States, we have a lot of shared interests, but we also have some situations where our interests diverge,” Vance said when asked about reports of Israeli espionage in the U.S. and Israel’s actions in Lebanon.

In July, during an appearance on Joe Rogan’s podcast, Vance also accused some Israeli officials of trying to influence American public opinion against U.S. negotiations with Iran.

Meanwhile, Hegseth met with Netanyahu Oct. 19 at Ovda Air Base in southern Israel, where U.S. refueling aircraft and fighter jets are deployed, according to multiple outlets. Netanyahu spokesman Doron Spielman confirmed the meeting to Reuters, saying the two discussed “threats in the region,” U.S.-Israeli offensive and defensive cooperation, and Trump’s support for Netanyahu.

Axios first reported the visit, citing two sources familiar with the matter. The outlet said it came amid discussions about potentially resuming major combat operations against Iran. 

Netanyahu ⁠told Israel’s Army Radio Oct. 14 that he did not favor a preemptive strike against Iran before Israel’s election but he also warned that Israel would respond forcefully if it were attacked. Trump also said in an Oct. 8 Truth Social post that “we will not be attacking Iran” before the Nov. 3 U.S. midterm ⁠elections.

Hegseth posted on X Oct. 19 about visiting U.S. service members in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility, which covers the Middle East, northeast Africa, and parts of Asia. He did not identify Israel as his destination.