Vice President JD Vance spoke at the Republican Jewish Coalition summit, aiming to strengthen ties with donors while facing questions regarding his association with Tucker Carlson.
Key facts
- •Vance’s appearance marked his first speech at an RJC leadership summit and the first time a sitting president or vice president has attended since 2019.
- •Former Sen. Norm Coleman, the RJC board chair, directly questioned Vance about his association with media figures who have platformed antisemites.
- •GOP donor Eric Levine stated he wished Vance had "unambiguously separated himself and condemned Tucker by name."
- •Tucker Carlson responded to the controversy via text message, criticizing the organization for its stance on the war in Gaza.
- •Marco Rubio and Ted Cruz are viewed by many attendees as having stronger, pre-existing relationships with the RJC membership.
Vice President JD Vance addressed the Republican Jewish Coalition’s annual leadership summit in Las Vegas on Monday. While his speech helped alleviate concerns among some top donors regarding his commitment to the U.S.-Israel relationship, his response to questions about his relationship with conservative pundit Tucker Carlson left some attendees unsatisfied.
Addressing concerns on antisemitism
Vance, currently viewed as a front-runner for the 2028 Republican nomination, used his speech to address skepticism regarding his stance on antisemitism and the U.S.-Israel alliance. He stated that "Jew-hatred is corrosive to the soul" and emphasized the importance of the U.S.-Israel relationship to a crowd that largely responded with applause.
Questions regarding Tucker Carlson
During a Q&A session, former Sen. Norm Coleman questioned Vance about his willingness to appear on platforms that have hosted antisemites, specifically naming Tucker Carlson, Megyn Kelly, Joe Rogan, and Nick Fuentes. Vance’s response, which distinguished between individuals like Rogan and others, failed to satisfy some donors who remain critical of his long-standing ties to Carlson. Critics, including GOP donor Eric Levine and activist Shabbos Kestenbaum, expressed disappointment that Vance did not more explicitly distance himself from Carlson.
Competition for donor support
While Vance is working to build relationships within the pro-Israel community, other potential 2028 contenders like Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Sen. Ted Cruz maintain long-standing ties with the RJC. Attendees noted that Rubio remains a favorite among the crowd, with his name frequently drawing spontaneous applause during the summit.
Timeline
- 2019The last time a sitting president or vice president attended the RJC leadership summit.
- 2022JD Vance was elected to the U.S. Senate and attended the RJC summit.
- MondayVice President JD Vance delivered a speech at the RJC annual leadership summit in Las Vegas.
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This article was independently rewritten by ManyPress editorial AI from reporting originally published by Politico.
