Vance told journalist Mark Halperin that the president’s endorsement carries unmatched influence in international politics, yet he would not involve himself in Israeli affairs.
He stressed that his energy remains on the U.S. midterms, saying, "I endorse American candidates, and that’s where I’m focused," as he traveled to support Republican Senate nominee Michael Whatley in North Carolina.
Years earlier, Vance had flown to Hungary to back Viktor Orban before his party was ousted, a move that earned him criticism from both Israeli and domestic circles.
The timing of his refusal comes amid a surge of antisemitism in the United States, with Jewish Americans and GOP leaders debating whether Democrats, like Michigan Senate nominee Abdul El‑Sayed, pose a threat to Israel. Republicans have heightened these concerns to rally voters before the July 4 congressional elections.
Vance also blasted elements of Netanyahu’s war with Iran, accusing Israeli officials of attempting to sway American public opinion to prolong the conflict. He said on the Joe Rogan podcast, "There are people within their system that we know beyond a shadow of a doubt are manipulating and trying to change American public opinion to keep the war going on indefinitely."