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US Vice-President JD Vance has declined to endorse Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ahead of Israel’s upcoming election, taking a different position from President Donald Trump, who recently expressed full support for the Israeli leader, CNN reported.
In an interview with journalist Mark Halperin aboard Air Force Two, Vance said he endorsed only US candidates and was focused entirely on the upcoming US midterm elections. He made clear that he did not want to get involved in Israel’s election.
“I’m not for or against him. I’m not getting involved in the Israeli election,” Vance said, distancing himself from both support for and opposition to Netanyahu.
However, Vance’s stated neutrality contrasts with his earlier involvement in Hungary’s election this year. He travelled to Budapest to support Trump-backed Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, who subsequently lost the election after serving in office for many years.
Trump, meanwhile, has taken a different approach to the Israeli election. Although he told Time magazine earlier this month that he did not want to get involved in Israeli politics, he expressed full support for Netanyahu on Saturday.
In a social media post, Trump described Netanyahu as a “great wartime Prime Minister”, signalling his backing for the Israeli leader just days before the election.
Separately, US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth travelled to Israel on an unannounced visit just days before the vote. A source said Hegseth met Netanyahu and Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz on Monday evening.
