U.S. President Donald Trump has thrown his support behind Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s re-election bid, but Vice President JD Vance has declined to follow suit, highlighting a difference in approach at the highest levels of the Trump administration just days before Israel’s national election.
Trump issued an explicit endorsement of Netanyahu on Sunday, describing him as a strong leader and praising his role in confronting Iran. Vance, asked directly whether he supported Netanyahu’s re-election, said he would not get involved in Israeli politics.
“I endorse American candidates, and that’s where I’m focused on as the midterms,” Vance said in an interview with journalist Mark Halperin for the digital media outlet 2WAY.
“I’m not anti-endorsing him, but I’m not pro-endorsing him, I’m not getting involved in Israeli elections,” he added.
Vance’s comments came a day after Trump publicly endorsed Netanyahu, whose governing coalition faces a challenging electoral contest on October 27.
Trump Delivers an Unprecedented Endorsement
In a post on Truth Social, Trump offered Netanyahu what he called his “Complete and Total Endorsement” in the Israeli election.
The president praised Netanyahu’s leadership and described him as a partner in confronting Iran, underscoring the strategic relationship between Washington and Jerusalem.
Trump’s intervention is particularly significant because it marks an unprecedented step by a sitting U.S. president: publicly endorsing a candidate in an Israeli national election.
The move could provide Netanyahu with a political boost among voters who regard the relationship with Washington as a central pillar of Israel’s national security. However, the endorsement’s actual electoral impact remains uncertain.
Opinion polls have indicated that Netanyahu’s religious-nationalist coalition could fall short of the 61 seats required for a parliamentary majority, leaving the outcome dependent on the distribution of seats and subsequent coalition negotiations.
Vance Draws a Line
Vance’s refusal to endorse Netanyahu does not amount to an explicit rejection of the Israeli prime minister or a declaration of disagreement with Trump’s Israel policy.
The vice president emphasized that his political priorities lie in the United States, particularly the upcoming midterm elections.
His position is nevertheless notable because Vance has previously intervened in foreign electoral campaigns. Earlier this year, he publicly endorsed Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán.
His decision to remain neutral in Israel therefore represents a choice not to extend that involvement to Netanyahu’s re-election campaign.
The contrast with Trump is clear: the president has made his preference public, while his deputy has deliberately avoided taking sides.
Hegseth’s Reported Meeting With Netanyahu
The political developments coincided with a reported unannounced visit to Israel by U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who met with Netanyahu on Monday, according to Axios, citing two sources familiar with the matter.
Reuters said it could not independently confirm the visit. The Pentagon and the Israeli Embassy in Washington did not immediately comment.
The reported meeting comes amid continuing security cooperation between the two countries and discussions over the regional confrontation with Iran.
There is no public evidence establishing that the meeting was intended to influence Israel’s election. Its timing, however, places the encounter alongside Washington’s renewed political attention to Netanyahu’s prospects.
A Critical Election for Netanyahu
Israel’s October 27 election will be the country’s first national vote since Hamas’s October 7, 2023, attack and the subsequent regional conflict.
Netanyahu faces scrutiny over the government’s security record, the consequences of the war and the direction of Israel’s political future. His coalition’s ability to retain power remains uncertain.
Trump’s endorsement gives Netanyahu a highly visible show of support from Israel’s most influential international ally. Vance’s neutrality, by contrast, suggests that the administration is not speaking with one voice when it comes to direct involvement in the Israeli electoral contest.
The difference should not be overstated as evidence of a broader split over U.S.-Israeli relations. Both men remain part of an administration committed to close ties with Israel, and Vance has explicitly said he is neither endorsing nor opposing Netanyahu.
Ultimately, the decision will be made by Israeli voters. Trump has made his preference unmistakable; Vance has chosen to leave the choice to them.
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