WASHINGTON, June 11, 2026 (V7N) – US Vice President JD Vance acknowledged differences with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in an interview excerpt released Wednesday, saying the Israeli leader had "gotten some things wrong" in the Middle East war. Vance emphasized that Israel is a close partner of the United States, but noted that "sometimes, we have interests that are perfectly aligned and sometimes, we have interests that are misaligned."
"I've seen with the prime minister is that he aggressively asserts the interests of his country," Vance said in the interview, which is to be broadcast in full on Sunday. "Sometimes that means we're on the same page, and sometimes it means that we're not." The remarks signal growing friction between the two allied nations.
Relations between President Donald Trump and Netanyahu have been notably strained in recent weeks, with Trump going as far as calling the Israeli leader "crazy" in a recent phone call, according to Axios. Netanyahu gave the green light for retaliatory strikes against Iran over the weekend, against Trump's wishes.
"They've been a great partner in a lot of ways, but we also have to focus on what is in America's best interest, and where that diverges, we — unfortunately for the Israelis — have to choose the side of the American people," said Vance. Asked if Netanyahu had made mistakes in how he has worked with Washington on Iran, the vice president said "he's certainly gotten some things wrong," but declined to specify what they were.
Vance added that "those conversations sometimes are better left in private." The interview highlights underlying tensions between the two allies, even as the United States continues to support Israel militarily and diplomatically amid the ongoing Middle East conflict.
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