U.S. Vice President JD Vance said he would stay out of Israel’s Oct. 27 election despite President Donald Trump’s endorsement of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, citing his focus on U.S. midterm candidates.
Trump endorsed Netanyahu on Oct. 18 in a Truth Social post. He praised Netanyahu’s role in confronting Iran and said the United States would be left to handle Iran-related work itself if Israelis chose another leader. Trump did not specify what work he meant.
In an interview with Mark Halperin on 2WAY Tonight published Oct. 19, Vance said he was endorsing American candidates and concentrating on the midterms. He said his decision to stay out of Israel’s election was neither an endorsement of Netanyahu nor opposition to one.
The Associated Press reported that Trump had withheld a formal endorsement for months amid policy disagreements. Netanyahu has promoted his relationship with Trump to Israeli voters, AP reported, and Trump has backed him in previous elections.
Vance has supported a candidate abroad before. In April, he campaigned in Budapest for then-Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who later lost the election.
Israel is due to hold its Knesset election on Oct. 27.
