Vance Declines Netanyahu Endorsement as Trump Backs Bibi

Vice President JD Vance declined Monday to endorse Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for reelection, while President Donald Trump gave the embattled Israeli leader his "Complete and Total Endorsement" ahead of Israel's Oct. 27 election.

"I endorse American candidates ... so I'm not getting involved in Israeli elections," Vance said in an interview with journalist Mark Halperin, according to The Wall Street Journal.

Vance said he was neither supporting nor opposing Netanyahu, explaining that his focus was on the Nov. 3 U.S. midterm elections.

Trump on Sunday praised Netanyahu as a "Great Warrior Prime Minister" and a partner in confronting Iran, adding that without Netanyahu in office, the United States might have to finish the fight against Tehran on its own.

Netanyahu thanked Trump for the backing, writing on X, "Together we will complete the mission!"

The endorsement came as Netanyahu seeks another term amid polls suggesting his governing coalition could fall short of a parliamentary majority. Israelis will vote in the country's first national election since Hamas' Oct. 7, 2023, attack and the ensuing regional wars.

Vance's stance contrasts with his decision to campaign in Hungary in April for then-Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, who lost his reelection bid.

Meanwhile, War Secretary Pete Hegseth made an unannounced visit to Israel on Monday and met with Netanyahu at Ovda Air Base in southern Israel, Axios reported, citing two sources familiar with the trip.

Reuters said it could not independently confirm the visit, and the Pentagon and Israeli Embassy in Washington did not immediately comment.

The visit came amid U.S.-Israeli discussions about potentially resuming major combat operations against Iran, according to Axios.