Vice President JD Vance made a private appearance before the Republican Jewish Coalition during its conference in Las Vegas, seeking to address concerns about his position on Israel and Jewish American issues. The closed-door format was intended to enable frank discussion among attendees, according to conference organizers.
Vance discussed his personal experiences in Israel and his connection to the Israeli people during the meeting, according to attendees including Ari Fleischer, a board member and former Bush administration spokesman. When questioned about his podcast appearances, including those with controversial figures, Vance characterized such appearances as efforts to reach broad audiences regardless of his personal agreement with the hosts. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin relayed this explanation to reporters.
The vice president’s appearance carried significant weight given his position as a potential frontrunner for the Republican presidential nomination in 2028. However, attendees held mixed reactions to his remarks. Some expressed satisfaction with his responses, while others remained skeptical about his true sentiments regarding Israel. Tennis coach and prominent pro-Israel conservative Bruce Pearl said he would continue observing Vance’s actions before rendering final judgment, particularly regarding his associations with media figures like Tucker Carlson, who faced backlash over antisemitic content on his podcast.
Vance’s positioning on Israel has drawn scrutiny in recent months. In June and July, he criticized certain Israeli government officials for opposing negotiations and suggested that elements within the Israeli government were attempting to influence American public opinion. Ron Dermer, an adviser to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, praised Vance’s role in a regional conflict earlier in the year, though some attendees found his previous public statements concerning.
The Republican Jewish Coalition summit reflected broader party concerns about antisemitism and support for Israel ahead of midterm elections. Party leaders used the conference to criticize Democratic positions on these issues while navigating internal divisions among Republicans regarding the appropriate level of U.S. support for Israel.
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