Vance to address Republican Jewish Coalition amid anti-Semitism concerns

US Vice President JD Vance is scheduled to address the Republican Jewish Coalition's annual gathering on Monday, a closed-to-media event taking place at a particularly sensitive moment for Jewish Americans and for US-Israel relations.

With midterm elections approaching, concerns about anti-Semitism have grown across the political spectrum. Republicans have sought to portray Democrats as hostile to Jews and Israel, while grappling with divisions of their own.

Questions over Vance's stance

Last month, Vance suggested that some Israeli officials had tried to shape American public opinion to extend the war with Iran. In June, he sharply criticized members of Israel's government for opposing President Trump's efforts to end the Iran conflict, saying he would not attack the only powerful ally he had. In July, speaking to podcaster Joe Rogan, he claimed certain figures within Israel's system were deliberately manipulating US opinion to keep the war going.

Unease also persists over Vance's refusal to distance himself from commentator Tucker Carlson, who last year hosted a friendly conversation with white supremacist Nick Fuentes, an outspoken anti-Semite. Terry Platt, a coalition member from New York, said some attendees feel uncomfortable with Vance speaking and remain unsure of his true views.

Wider context

Vance is widely seen as a frontrunner for the Republican presidential nomination in 2028. Support for Israel has declined in the US in recent years, particularly among Democrats — an AP-NORC poll found roughly half believe Israel has committed genocide in Gaza, an accusation Israel and the US government reject. Several human rights groups and a UN commission have made similar characterizations of Israel's campaign in Gaza.

Support for Israel remains stronger among Republicans, though a generational gap persists, with younger Republicans more likely than older ones to say US support for Israel is excessive. Last year's coalition summit turned into a days-long reckoning over anti-Semitism within conservative ranks after the Heritage Foundation's president declined to distance the group from Carlson.