JD Vance snubs Netanyahu as MAGA divisions over Israel deepen

US Vice President JD Vance has refused to endorse Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ahead of next week's elections, breaking with President Donald Trump amid growing divisions within the MAGA movement over Israel and Washington's involvement in Middle East conflicts.

Speaking to journalist Mark Halperin on Monday, Vance declined to follow Trump's endorsement of Netanyahu, who faces a difficult re-election battle on 27 October.

"I'm not anti-endorsing him. I'm not pro-endorsing him. I'm not getting involved in Israeli elections," Vance said.

"I endorse American candidates, and that's where I'm focused on the midterms," he added.

Trump had offered Netanyahu his "Complete and Total Endorsement" the previous day, praising the Israeli leader's partnership with Washington against Iran and declaring that he would never let Israelis down.

Vance's refusal comes as Netanyahu faces growing political opposition at home and international condemnation over Israel's genocide in Gaza, which has severely damaged the country's international standing.

Netanyahu has also become an increasingly toxic political figure in the US, where Israel's genocide in Gaza and the war against Iran have severely eroded longstanding public support for the country.

An October Chicago Council survey found American favourability towards Israel at its lowest level since polling began in 1978, while Pew Research found that 60% of Americans viewed Israel unfavourably and 59% lacked confidence in Netanyahu.

Even among Republicans under 50, 57% now view Israel negatively, making Netanyahu's association with the Republican Party a potentially contentious issue for politicians with ambitions beyond Trump's presidency.

It also exposes differences within Trump's political movement over the extent of American support for Israel, particularly following the US-Israeli war against Iran.

While traditional Republican figures remain strongly supportive of Israel, influential voices within the MAGA movement have increasingly questioned whether Washington's military commitments serve American interests.

Former Fox News host Tucker Carlson has become one of the most prominent critics of US involvement in Israel's regional conflicts, clashing with pro-Israel Republicans over American military assistance and the confrontation with Iran.

Vance, who maintains close ties with Carlson, has sought to navigate these divisions while preserving his standing within Trump's administration.

In June, he criticised members of Netanyahu's government for opposing Trump's attempts to negotiate an end to the Iran conflict.

The following month, Vance accused elements of the Israeli government of attempting to manipulate American public opinion to prolong the war.

"There are some people within their system that we know beyond a shadow of a doubt are manipulating and trying to change American public opinion to keep the war going on indefinitely," he told Joe Rogan.

He has also argued that American foreign policy must not become subordinate to Israel's priorities, while maintaining that Israel remains an important US ally.

The tensions have complicated Vance's relationship with some influential Republican donors and pro-Israel organisations.

In August, he attended a Republican Jewish Coalition gathering in Las Vegas, seeking to reassure members concerned about his foreign policy positions and his association with Carlson.

His refusal to endorse Netanyahu is particularly significant given his widely discussed ambitions to succeed Trump as the Republican presidential candidate in 2028.

During the same interview with Halperin, Vance said he believed Trump would endorse him if he decided to run, although he acknowledged that the two had not discussed the matter.

The vice president's decision to distance himself from Israel's election therefore comes as he faces the challenge of maintaining Trump's support while appealing to competing factions within the Republican Party.

His explanation that he avoids foreign elections is also complicated by his previous endorsement of Hungary's Viktor Orban, whom he actively supported during an unsuccessful re-election campaign earlier this year.

For Netanyahu, the absence of Vance's endorsement adds another dimension to an increasingly difficult election campaign.

Opinion polls have suggested that Netanyahu's governing coalition could struggle to secure the 61 parliamentary seats needed to retain power, with opposition parties seeking to capitalise on public dissatisfaction with his leadership.

Netanyahu also remains subject to an International Criminal Court arrest warrant over alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza, further complicating his international standing.

Trump's endorsement demonstrates that Netanyahu retains powerful supporters in Washington, despite previous tensions between the two leaders over Iran and regional diplomacy.

Vance's position, however, reflects the increasingly contested nature of American support for Netanyahu within the Republican movement.

Although his refusal does not amount to an outright rejection of the Israeli prime minister, it illustrates the competing pressures facing a potential successor to Trump as MAGA debates the future direction of US foreign policy.