U.S. Vice President JD Vance said during a podcast appearance on September 15, 2026, that Donald Trump would base his relations with the Israeli government on U.S. national interests. Vance said Trump was ready to break with the Netanyahu government if the interests of the American people diverged from those of the Israeli government.
Vance said this approach did not mean ignoring Israel’s security concerns. He said the decisive criterion for Washington should be U.S. national interests, arguing that Trump was the recent U.S. president most willing to break with the Israeli government.
Iran policy highlighted the differences
In June 2026, Vance said that U.S. and Israeli interests did not always fully align and that Trump would follow U.S. interests in such cases. On June 18, he targeted some Israeli government officials over their criticism of the agreement with Iran.
Vance argued that U.S. diplomatic and military support should not be disregarded. He alleged that some Israeli figures were trying to influence American public opinion against the agreement and wanted the war to continue. In July 2026, he also said that some figures in the Israeli government were trying to influence U.S. policy on Iran. The White House shares Vance’s view on efforts by foreign countries to influence American public opinion.
The strategic partnership continues
Vance’s remarks do not mean that the strategic partnership between the United States and Israel has ended. The current differences center on diplomacy with Iran, the scope of military engagement and which priorities Washington will follow in its foreign-policy decisions.
While continuing its partnership with Israel, the Trump administration is signaling that it may take a different position from Tel Aviv’s expectations on the war with Iran and diplomatic agreements. Vance’s remarks show that the “America First” approach emphasizes the United States’ independence in strategic decision-making without rejecting support for Israel.
