Vice President JD Vance declined to endorse Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for reelection on Monday, a day after President Donald Trump backed the Israeli leader’s bid.
When journalist Mark Halperin posed the question, Vance laughed before giving a brief response.
“The president has the most effective endorsement in American or international political history,” he said. “I endorse American candidates, and that’s what I’m focused on, is the midterms. So I’m not getting involved in Israeli elections.”
Pressed again on the matter, the vice president said he is neither in favor of nor opposed to an endorsement of Netanyahu but doesn’t want to get involved in Israeli politics.
Earlier this year, Trump and Vance endorsed former Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban for reelection. Their support didn’t do much, as Orban lost the election to Peter Magyar.
Vance’s decision not to weigh in on Israel’s Oct. 27 legislative election is notable, considering Trump has been a strong ally of Netanyahu for some time.
TRUMP BACKS NETANYAHU FOR REELECTION, SAYS ISRAELI PM CRITICAL ALLY AGAINST IRAN
Trump voiced his support for Netanyahu in a Truth Social post on Sunday, telling Israelis to vote for the embattled prime minister because he is a great foe of Iran.
“It would have been only a question of time until Iran would have put that ominous phrase into effect, but they have been systematically destroyed, both Militarily and Financially, and unless they change their ways, rapidly, we will soon finish the job,” Trump wrote. “If Israel has the wrong Leader, which would be anyone other than Bibi, America will have to do this work ourselves, and I am not inclined to do so.”
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[ H/T Washington Examiner ]
