Vance Withholds Support for Netanyahu as Trump Backs His Bid
WHO:
ABC News - Vice President JD Vance declined to endorse Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for reelection.
ABC News - President Donald Trump endorsed Netanyahu; Vance said, “The president has the most influential endorsement in American or international political history.”
CNN - Vance said he was neither for nor against endorsing Netanyahu: “I’m not anti-endorsing him. I’m not pro-endorsing him. I’m not getting involved in Israeli elections.”
ABC News - Vance was campaigning for Republican Senate nominee Michael Whatley of North Carolina.
ABC News - Vance had campaigned for Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, whose party later lost Hungary’s parliamentary election.
ABC News - Republican Jewish Coalition (RJC) members heard Vance speak privately in Las Vegas; he left a positive impression but did not disavow conservative podcast host Tucker Carlson.
ABC News - Vance faced skepticism from Jewish Republicans about his commitment to Jewish Americans and the U.S. alliance with Israel.
CNN - U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth met Netanyahu and Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz.
WHAT:
CNN - Trump had previously told Time, “I’m not involved in [Israeli] politics anymore.”
CNN - Trump’s endorsement of Netanyahu came nine days before Israel’s election.
Alternet - Netanyahu is seeking a seventh term; the election is scheduled for Oct. 27.
Alternet - The article says Israeli polls identify security as voters’ top issue.
Alternet - The article reports Netanyahu faces criminal cases in court and disputes over military-service exemptions for religious Jews.
Alternet - The article says Trump endorsed Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton over Sen. John Cornyn, putting the Texas Senate seat in play against Democrat James Talarico.
Alternet - The article says Netanyahu’s government has made military occupation of 70 percent of Gaza permanent.
The Source - Trump publicly supported Netanyahu’s reelection campaign.
CNN - Trump called Netanyahu a “Great Warrior Prime Minister” in a social-media endorsement.
ABC News - Vance said, “I endorse American candidates, and that’s where I’m focused on the midterms,” and added, “So, I’m not getting involved in Israeli elections.”
Fox News - Vance said he would not weigh in on Israel’s upcoming election despite Trump’s backing of Netanyahu.
ABC News - Vance criticized members of Israel’s government for opposing Trump’s efforts to resolve the war with Iran. He said some officials were “manipulating and trying to change American public opinion to keep the war going on indefinitely.”
ABC News - U.S. political debate included concerns about antisemitism and Republican criticism of Democrats, including Michigan Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed, over their positions on Jews and Israel.
WHERE:
CNN - Vance gave an interview to journalist Mark Halperin aboard Air Force Two.
ABC News - Vance was traveling to campaign in North Carolina.
ABC News - Vance spoke to the RJC in Las Vegas.
CNN - Hegseth made an unannounced trip to Israel and met Netanyahu and Katz.
WHY:
ABC News - Vance said he was focused on U.S. candidates and the midterms, rather than Israeli elections.
HOW:
The Source - Trump conveyed his support in a social-media post.
CNN - Hegseth’s meetings with Netanyahu and Katz were reported by sources familiar with the details and a U.S. official.
(UPDATED October 21, 2026 12:00 UTC)
Trump endorsed Benjamin Netanyahu nine days before Israel’s election, despite previously telling Time, “I’m not involved in [Israeli] politics anymore.” Netanyahu is seeking a seventh term, with security identified as voters’ top issue, as he faces criminal cases and disputes over exemptions from military service for religious Jews; his government has also made military occupation of 70 percent of Gaza permanent. Trump also endorsed Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton over Senator John Cornyn, putting the Texas Senate seat in play against Democrat James Talarico.
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(UPDATED October 21, 2026 00:27 UTC)
President Trump endorsed Benjamin Netanyahu for reelection, calling him a “Great Warrior Prime Minister,” while Vice President JD Vance declined to take a position on Israel’s election. Speaking aboard Air Force Two as he traveled to campaign for North Carolina Republican Michael Whatley, Vance said he was focused on American candidates and the midterms, and criticized Israeli officials he said were trying to keep the war with Iran going indefinitely. Vance also met privately with Republican Jewish Coalition members in Las Vegas, amid skepticism from some about his commitment to Jewish Americans and the U.S.-Israel alliance, while Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth made an unannounced visit to Israel and met Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz.