Vice‑President JD Vance said Israeli Prime‑Minister Benjamin Netanyahu sometimes acted against U.S. interests, according to a CBS News interview aired tonight.
Vance told co‑host that Netanyahu "aggressively asserts the interests of his country" and that while U.S. and Israel are close partners, their interests can diverge.
He added that the U.S. must choose the side that best serves American people wherever disagreement occurs, hinting at ongoing strain between the governments.
The comment comes after last week’s U.S. strikes in Lebanon and a fresh round of missiles fired between Iran and Israel, rekindling a cease‑fire that has held since April.
Vance declined to give specific examples of alleged missteps, saying “those conversations best remain private.”
President Trump, whose term was historically supportive of Israel, reportedly called Netanyahu "effing crazy" during a phone conversation, further inflaming tensions.
Netanyahu faces national elections later this year and will need to assure Israeli voters of his success in the Iran conflict, while the U.S. monitors the level of public support for continued war involvement.
