Vice President JD Vance issued a pointed message for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, saying President Donald Trump is prepared to “part ways” with the longtime Israeli leader when U.S. interests demand it.
Addressing technology executives and entrepreneurs by videoconference at Tuesday’s All-In Summit in Los Angeles, Vance said the Trump administration is willing to create distance from one of America’s closest allies if necessary to protect its own priorities.
“Obviously Israel has been an important partner when it comes to military technology, when it comes to intelligence sharing, but also sometimes the United States doesn’t… agree with Israel,” Vance told attendees.
He said Trump “has shown a willingness to actually part ways with Bibi Netanyahu when he feels like the interests of the American people are different from the interests of the government of Israel.”
Vance further sought to draw a distinction between Trump and previous presidents, arguing that Trump is the only U.S. president in four decades who has been willing to break with Netanyahu. His comments came despite widely reported tensions between the Israeli prime minister and former Presidents Barack Obama and Joe Biden.
After saying he would not allow US foreign policy toward Europe to become “subservient” to NATO, Vance turned his attention back to America’s closest Middle Eastern ally.
“We cannot let our Middle Eastern foreign policy be subservient to the state of Israel.”
The remarks reflect growing frustration voiced by both Vance and Trump toward Israel’s leadership in recent months, as the allies’ war with Iran continues.
“We cannot let our Middle Eastern foreign policy be subservient to the state of Israel,” Vance said during Tuesday’s All-In Summit.
Vance said Trump is willing to “part ways” with Netanyahu in order to safeguard American interests.
Trump and Vance expressed frustration with Netanyahu and Israeli leadership over the summer when the nation repeatedly struck Hezbollah forces in Lebanon during fragile peace talks the US was having with Iran
In June, Vance warned that Israel has few friends left on the international stage who are willing to go to bat for the small nation of 10.3 million residents.
His tough words have alienated the VP from some Jewish GOP donors and Israeli diplomats.
The temporary ceasefire agreement that Vance brokered with Iran in June also angered some pro-Israel factions intent on sustained fighting with the Islamic Republic.
Some criticized the deal for undercutting Israel’s goal of regime change in Iran.
Trump himself has also been more willing to criticize the Israeli leader when he thinks he’s being undermined.
During a tense phone call in June after Israel unleashed a furious bombing against Hezbollah militants in Lebanon, Trump reportedly called the Israeli leader ‘f***ing crazy.’
‘You’d be in prison if it weren’t for me. I’m saving your a**. Everybody hates you now. Everybody hates Israel because of this,’ Trump reportedly yelled. ‘What the f*** are you doing?’
More recently, Trump told reporters that he would speak with Israeli leaders amid international concern that Palestinians in the West Bank have been persecuted.
Vance’s efforts to end the Iran war in June with a ceasefire agreement angered some pro-Israel GOP donors and Israeli diplomats
‘I’ll be speaking to Israel,’ Trump said of the settlement issue. ‘I’ll be speaking to them, and I’ll find out what they, what’s their thinking. I understand exactly what’s going on. But I want to find out why all of a sudden does that happen.’
The UK, France, Canada and nine other nations jointly announced sanctions on Israel over the violence in the West Bank.
Trump reportedly did not attempt to intervene or push back on the effort, signaling his reluctance to defend the close US ally against economic punishment.
Trump last met Netanyahu at the White House on July 28, their first face-to-face meeting since the war with Iran began in February.
Vance also met with Netanyahu at the White House this past July and in Jerusalem in April.