Vance Seeks to Reassure Jewish Republicans at Private Las Vegas Forum

Vice President JD Vance addressed members of the Republican Jewish Coalition during a closed-door meeting on Monday at the Venetian hotel in Las Vegas, moving to resolve ongoing friction with pro-Israel conservatives. According to reporting from Axios, the private appearance represents an effort by Vance to mend relations with influential party stakeholders ahead of an anticipated presidential bid in 2028.

During a 30-minute question-and-answer session led by former Minnesota Senator Norm Coleman, Vance characterized Israel as "extremely important to America's national security." Axios reported that Vance contrasted key historical partnerships with other foreign alliances, pointing to "a much deeper cultural symbiosis and harmony" in U.S. relations with countries like Israel and the United Kingdom.

Vance also spoke about domestic prejudice during the session, invoking conversations with the late conservative organizer Charlie Kirk. Per Axios, Vance recalled agreeing with Kirk that "Jew hatred is corrosive to the soul."

Addressing the drivers behind the recent spike in antisemitic activity, Vance placed blame on international migration patterns. Vance claimed that substantial portions of the hostility were "coming from these Third World immigrants importing these ancient ethnic hatreds." He added: "If you want to bring ethnic hatreds with you, don't bother coming to the United States."

The outreach follows months of quiet friction between Vance and mainstream pro-Israel figures. Axios noted that ahead of military action concerning Iran, Vance privately expressed skepticism regarding Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's positive projections and challenged Netanyahu directly over those forecasts.

For conservative political operators and institutional donors, Vance's appearance highlights the complex coalition building required as he navigates the gap between traditional GOP foreign policy priorities and his populist, non-interventionist platform.