Vance declines to endorse Netanyahu, breaking with Trump days before Israeli election

US Vice President JD Vance has declined to endorse Benjamin Netanyahu for re-election, breaking with President Donald Trump, who gave the Israeli prime minister his full backing over the weekend. (https://www.cnn.com/2026/10/19/politics/vance-declines-endorse-netanyahu-trump-split?cid=external-feeds_iluminar_meta)

Asked by journalist Mark Halperin on the 2WAY Tonight programme, aboard Air Force Two on Monday, whether he endorsed Netanyahu, Vance said: “I endorse American candidates, and that’s where I’m focused on is the midterm… I’m not getting involved in Israeli elections.” (https://www.cnn.com/2026/10/19/politics/vance-declines-endorse-netanyahu-trump-split?cid=external-feeds_iluminar_meta)

Pressed, he added: “I’m not anti-endorsing him. I’m not pro-endorsing him. I’m not getting involved in Israeli elections.” (https://www.cnn.com/2026/10/19/politics/vance-declines-endorse-netanyahu-trump-split?cid=external-feeds_iluminar_meta)

Trump had told Time magazine earlier this month: “I’m not involved in [Israeli] politics anymore.” (https://www.cnn.com/2026/10/19/politics/vance-declines-endorse-netanyahu-trump-split?cid=external-feeds_iluminar_meta) But over the weekend he posted on Truth Social that Netanyahu “has been a Great Warrior Prime Minister, and an even greater Partner for Peace in combatting the Islamic Republic of Iran.” (https://www.wsj.com/world/middle-east/vance-declines-to-endorse-netanyahu-in-re-election-bid-579a25c0)

Israel’s Oct 27 election is the first national election since Hamas attacked Israel on Oct 7, 2023. (https://www.wsj.com/world/middle-east/vance-declines-to-endorse-netanyahu-in-re-election-bid-579a25c0)

Vance has previously backed a foreign leader: he travelled to Budapest in April to support Viktor Orbán, who lost his re-election bid. (https://www.wsj.com/world/middle-east/vance-declines-to-endorse-netanyahu-in-re-election-bid-579a25c0) The Wall Street Journal notes Vance has accused elements of Israel’s government of trying to shape US public opinion over the war with Iran and has said Israel is no more important an ally than other US allies — positions some Republicans have criticised. (https://www.wsj.com/world/middle-east/vance-declines-to-endorse-netanyahu-in-re-election-bid-579a25c0)

The split emerged as US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth made an unannounced trip to Israel, meeting Netanyahu and Defence Minister Israel Katz on Monday evening. (https://www.cnn.com/2026/10/19/politics/vance-declines-endorse-netanyahu-trump-split?cid=external-feeds_iluminar_meta)