Vance: “Netanyahu Definitely Made Some Mistakes”

U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance said the interests of the United States and Israel are not always aligned, against the backdrop of President Trump’s relationship with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over the Iran war. “Prime Minister Netanyahu, look, he leads a country that is unquestionably a very close partner of the United States. But even when we are close partners, sometimes we have interests that are perfectly aligned and sometimes we have interests that are not aligned,” Vance told CBS.

Vance described Netanyahu as a leader who “fights aggressively for the interests of his country,” but said that Trump “was very clear about what is good for us.” “Sometimes that means we’re on the same page and sometimes that means we’re not,” Vance said, adding that “in places where it diverges, we, unfortunately for the Israelis, have to choose the side of the American people, which we always do.”

Asked whether Netanyahu had made any mistakes in the way he handled his relationship with the United States on the Iran issue, Vance said, “He definitely made some mistakes.” Vance declined to give examples, saying that “it’s better to keep those conversations private.” “But what I am saying is that he is a good partner,” Vance said. “We will continue to work together. But where the interests diverge, the United States will pursue the best interests of our nation, and that is how it will be.”