Vance courts Jewish Republicans in closed-door Las Vegas speech as Israel tensions swirl
LAS VEGAS — Vice President JD Vance spoke Monday behind closed doors to the Republican Jewish Coalition in Las Vegas, pressing a conciliatory message to
LAS VEGAS — Vice President JD Vance spoke Monday behind closed doors to the Republican Jewish Coalition in Las Vegas, pressing a conciliatory message to Jewish conservatives uneasy about his views on Israel and his ties to controversial figures such as Tucker Carlson.
The appearance came at a fraught moment for Jewish Americans and for the U.S.-Israel relationship. Antisemitism has been a rising concern across the political spectrum ahead of the midterm elections, while Republicans have also been wrestling with their own internal divisions over how strongly to back Israel and how to talk about Jewish voters.
An olive branch to skeptical allies
A person close to Vance, speaking anonymously ahead of the private remarks, described the event as an effort to extend an olive branch to people who remain unsure about him. The source said Vance already has support inside the Jewish community.
The setting mattered. The speech was closed to the news media, leaving only the political aftertaste from the room: first sharp criticism from some Jewish Republicans, then a standing ovation after Vance finished. The contrast captured the tension around him better than any prepared talking point could have.
Israel, Iran and old concerns
Vance has drawn scrutiny from pro-Israel Republicans after suggesting last month that some Israeli officials were trying to shape U.S. public opinion in order to keep the war with Iran going. That remark lingered as he came before one of the party’s most important Jewish gatherings.
His relations with the coalition have also been shadowed by his refusal to fully distance himself from Carlson, whose commentary has repeatedly stirred controversy in conservative circles. For many attendees, the question was not only what Vance would say about Israel, but whether he would reassure them that he sees Jewish concerns as central rather than secondary.
In June, Vance also told Bill Maher that the United States would win “either way” on Iran — either through a final deal or because Iran’s nuclear program would be destroyed and the country weakened. He later said future ties with Tehran depend on the Iranian government changing course on nuclear ambitions and regional instability.
That broader Iran posture is part of why Jewish Republicans were watching closely. The vice president has tried to frame the administration’s line as hard-nosed but flexible, arguing that Washington can extract leverage whether negotiations succeed or fail. Critics inside the GOP remain unconvinced. So do some of the Jewish activists he was trying to win over in Las Vegas.
The White House now faces a delicate task: keep pro-Israel Republicans onside while holding together a coalition that includes skeptics of intervention and voices less aligned with traditional hawkish orthodoxy. For Vance, the standing ovation offered a temporary opening. The real test comes next, as the party keeps fighting over Israel, Iran and who gets to define Republican support for Jewish voters.
