JD Vance addresses pro-Israel doubts as his past remarks cast shadow over 2028 run

 VENETIAN, LAS VEGAS: Vice President JD Vance, after campaigning in Michigan, addressed rising concerns about his pro-Israel credentials, as some Jewish Republicans are uneasy about the expected GOP frontrunner in the next presidential election.

Doubts about Vance’s loyalty to Israel stem from his recent friction with Benjamin Netanyahu's government over Iran diplomacy.

In a highly publicized interview on 'The Joe Rogan Experience,' Vance openly accused members of the Israeli government of running a paid foreign-influence social media campaign to manipulate US public opinion against the deal to prolong the war.

Vance confronts GOP skeptics ahead of 2028

Several of JD Vance’s statements in recent months have sparked skepticism about whether he will remain as loyal to Israel as previous governments as he is expected to run for presidential post in 2028.

Some Jewish Republicans have expressed a preference for Secretary of State Marco Rubio, while others have raised concerns. Senator Ted Cruz stated on NBC News that the Republican Party has not yet decided on its 2028 presidential nominee or coalesced around Vice President JD Vance. 

Hours after campaigning against Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed of Michigan, Vance addressed concerns over his views on Jews and Israel with the Republican Jewish Coalition, a group of influential political activists and donors.

When Vance spoke with RJC members at the Venetian in Las Vegas, reporters were kept out of the room. However, CNN claims to have obtained audio of Vance’s remarks from a person who attended the roughly 45-minute “fireside chat” with Norm Coleman.

Norm Coleman, a former Minnesota senator, is the national chairman of the RJC board.

At one point, Vance raised “some of the obvious elephants in the room,” referring to growing skepticism among young people about the US-Israel relationship.

Vance said Republicans need to “actually get out there and talk about the ways in which it is in the best interest of the United States of America.”

RJC chairperson asks why Vance appeared on antisemitic media

According to the report, Vance did not take questions from the audience, but the moderated conversation touched on the delicate subject.

Norm Coleman, who was speaking with Vance, asked him how he decides which media platforms or personalities to appear with.

Coleman specifically named Tucker Carlson, Megyn Kelly Joe Rogan and Nick Fuentes, saying these figures have given platforms to people accused of promoting antisemitic views.

Carlson was mentioned in the conversation because he has argued that the US should no longer treat Israel as an ally.

Vance then responded by saying he understands that people in the room may disagree with things Carlson, Kelly or Rogan have said. He distinguished Rogan from Fuentes, saying they are “very, very different” people.

“I recognize a lot of people in this room might disagree with things that Tucker Carlson or Megyn Kelly or Joe Rogan has said,” Vance said.

Notably, Fuentes, who identifies as white nationalist and is a holocaust denier, was hosted by President Trump at his Mar-a-Lago residence in 2022

Vance otherwise defended his engagement with the media personalities, saying Republicans need “to be willing to go everywhere and bring our message anywhere and to any person.”