Vance’s Position on Israel Signals a Growing Rift in Washington

Four months after the start of Operation "Roar of the Lion," what had looked like historic U.S.-Israeli cooperation over Iran now appears to be turning into a serious dispute between Washington and Jerusalem. The strain comes alongside the emerging deal with Iran and increasingly sharp remarks from President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance.

A political adviser in Israel said Jerusalem wrongly expected Trump’s "America First" policy would exempt Israel. "It never could have lasted," the adviser said. "We could never have remained for four years as an exception to everything America does in foreign policy. When the confrontation with Iran came, Israel was naive to think it could be exempt from those expectations."

Politico highlighted Vance’s unusually direct criticism of Israel’s leadership. He said Trump is "the only head of state in the world right now who has any sympathy for the State of Israel" and added that, if he were in Israel’s cabinet, he might not attack "the only strong ally" it still has. He also warned Israelis who think their biggest problem is the U.S. president to "wake up" and face their reality. A person close to Vance said he sees public support for Israel eroding, including among younger Republicans, and is responding accordingly.

According to the report, Vance has long argued, even before becoming vice president, that American and Israeli interests do not always align and that the U.S. should not be pulled into war with Iran for Israel. In a 2024 podcast, while he was Trump’s running mate, he said, "Israel has the right to defend itself, but America’s interest will sometimes be different" and "our interest is clearly not to go to war with Iran."

Trump’s own tone toward Israel has also become more critical in recent months. Earlier this month he reportedly called Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu a "fucking crazy person" after Israeli actions in Lebanon, which he said had endangered talks with Iran. Netanyahu later froze planned strikes in Beirut, a restraint Vance had been urging. A Middle East Institute official in Washington said the Israeli government understands there is a deep split but is underestimating it, and noted that the new Israel-Lebanon framework signed Friday may not be enough to change the broader U.S. direction.