Vice President JD Vance has acknowledged that the United States and Israel don't always see eye to eye, adding fuel to reports of friction between President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
In a preview clip released Wednesday for an upcoming "CBS Sunday Morning" interview set to air June 14, Vance said that while Israel remains a steadfast ally, the two countries' interests have often been "misaligned."
Vance described Netanyahu as a leader who "assertively champions the interests of his nation," and noted that Trump has been clear about what serves America's best interests. "Sometimes that means we're in agreement and sometimes it means that we're not," Vance said.
When pressed on Netanyahu's approach to Iran, Vance conceded the prime minister has made mistakes, though he didn't get into specifics. "He's certainly gotten some things wrong," Vance said.
Despite the differences, Vance confirmed the U.S. will continue working with Israel but will prioritize its own national interests when the two diverge.
The remarks come amid a backdrop of growing tension between Trump and Netanyahu. Earlier this month, Trump confirmed he told Netanyahu he was "effing crazy" during a phone call over Israel's continued strikes in Lebanon, which frustrated U.S. efforts to de-escalate the conflict. Trump said he was only "a little bit perturbed," not angry, and that he maintains a strong relationship with the Israeli leader, urging him to "stop this" fighting. Notably, Israel and Lebanon agreed to a U.S.-brokered ceasefire soon after.
But despite Trump's efforts to rein in Netanyahu, Israel struck a petrochemical facility in Iran on Monday, marking the first attack on the country's energy infrastructure since the April ceasefire. The strike underscores the ongoing divergence in priorities between the two allies.
Meanwhile, Netanyahu's Likud party has confirmed his re-election bid, with expectations that the prime minister will win, though the vote has not yet been officially scheduled and must be held by October. ABC News' Jonathan Karl reported that Trump said he was unsure whether Netanyahu would seek another term, calling his career "amazing" and questioning whether he would continue.
As the U.S. and Israel navigate their complex relationship, Vance's comments suggest that while the alliance remains strong, it's not without its bumps — and the U.S. will look out for itself first when necessary.
