US Vice President JD Vance declined on Monday to endorse Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for re-election ahead of Israel's October 27 election, a day after President Donald Trump gave Netanyahu his "Complete and Total Endorsement," according to reporting by the Wall Street Journal, CNN and Al Jazeera. "I'm not anti-endorsing him. I'm not pro-endorsing him. I'm not getting involved in Israeli elections," Vance said in an interview with journalist Mark Halperin. "I endorse American candidates and that's where I'm focused on is the midterms."

Trump on Sunday praised Netanyahu as a "Great Warrior Prime Minister" and an even greater partner for peace in combating Iran, adding that without Netanyahu in office the United States might have to finish the fight against Tehran on its own. Netanyahu thanked Trump for the backing, writing on X: "Together we will complete the mission!" The endorsement came as Netanyahu seeks another term amid polls suggesting his governing coalition could fall short of a parliamentary majority, in Israel's first national election since Hamas's October 7, 2023 attack and the ensuing regional wars.

Vance's hands-off stance contrasts with his own record abroad: in April he campaigned in Hungary for then-Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who lost his re-election bid, and last year he met Alice Weidel, leader of Germany's Alternative for Germany party. Vance said Trump has "the most effective endorsement in American or international political history," and that he has not decided whether to run for president in 2028, but believes Trump would endorse him if he does. Separately, Axios reported — in reporting Reuters said it could not independently confirm — that US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth made an unannounced visit to Israel on Monday and met Netanyahu, amid US-Israeli discussions about potentially resuming major combat operations against Iran; the Pentagon and the Israeli Embassy in Washington did not immediately comment. Sources: Wall Street Journal via PhilPost — Vance declines to endorse Netanyahu as Trump backs Israeli PM (Oct 21, 2026); CNN / Al Jazeera via Suara Garut — Vance Declines to Endorse Netanyahu Ahead of Israeli Election (Oct 21, 2026).