JD Vance kot Vivek Ramaswamy se sooča s kritiko zaradi napada na Ohio

US Vice President JD Vance stated on Monday that he will not endorse Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for re-election, prioritizing the upcoming United States midterm elections over foreign contests. Speaking during an interview with journalist Mark Halperin, Vance clarified that his political focus remains exclusively on American candidates. This stance stands in contrast to President Donald Trump, who issued a full endorsement of Netanyahu just a day prior. Vance noted that while Trump possesses the most influential endorsement in American or international political history, he intends to direct that energy toward securing victories for Republican nominees in the November 3 elections. The vice president made these remarks while traveling to North Carolina to campaign for Republican Senate nominee Michael Whatley. When pressed by Halperin regarding his specific position on the Israeli leader, Vance reiterated that he is not getting involved in Israeli elections. He emphasized that he supports American candidates and that is where his attention lies as the midterms approach. Later, during a rally in Ohio, Vance further elaborated on his reluctance to engage in foreign electoral politics. He pointed to his previous experience campaigning for Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban last spring, noting that Orban’s right-wing party subsequently lost the country’s parliamentary election. Vance described that outcome as not going particularly well, despite his admiration for Orban. Consequently, he declared he is not endorsing any more foreign candidates now or in the future. Trump’s endorsement of Netanyahu was published on Truth Social on Sunday. The president described Netanyahu as a great warrior prime minister and a partner for peace in combating the Islamic Republic of Iran. Trump warned that if Israel chose a different leader, America would be forced to handle regional security issues alone, a task he was not inclined to undertake. He characterized his post as a complete and total endorsement of the Israeli premier. Vance acknowledged the weight of this presidential support but maintained his distance from the campaign. He stated that he is neither attacking nor actively endorsing Netanyahu, but rather focusing on the domestic political landscape. This divergence in approach occurs during a period of heightened sensitivity regarding the US-Israel relationship and concerns over antisemitism in American politics. Republicans have recently sought to portray Democratic candidates, such as Michigan Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed, as hostile toward Jewish people and Israel. However, divisions over these issues have emerged within the Republican Party itself. Vance has faced scrutiny from Jewish Republicans regarding his commitment to Jewish Americans and the US alliance with Israel. Last month, he met privately with the Republican Jewish Coalition in Las Vegas, a group that advocates for strong US ties with Israel and opposes antisemitism. Reports indicated that Vance left a positive impression on attendees, though he stopped short of disavowing conservative podcast host Tucker Carlson. Carlson, a former Fox News host, faced significant criticism last year for interviewing Nick Fuentes, a white nationalist known for antisemitic views. Vance has faced broader questions about his association with Carlson. Tensions between Vance and members of the Israeli government surfaced earlier this year. In June, Vance sharply criticized officials in Netanyahu’s cabinet for opposing Trump’s efforts to resolve the conflict with Iran. The following month, Vance accused certain Israeli figures of attempting to manipulate American public opinion to undermine diplomatic negotiations. During an appearance on Joe Rogan’s podcast, Vance stated that there are individuals within the Israeli system who are working to keep the war going indefinitely by influencing US sentiment. His comments highlighted disagreements within the US-Israel relationship over the war and diplomatic strategies, even as Trump publicly backs Netanyahu. Amidst these international discussions, Vance also addressed domestic controversy surrounding a campaign advertisement in Ohio. While campaigning for Republican gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy, Vance defended a disputed 60-second spot aired by Ramaswamy’s team. The ad features Donna Arthur, the estranged mother of Democratic opponent Amy Acton, accusing her daughter of lying throughout her life. The advertisement disputes Acton’s accounts of childhood abuse and homelessness. Acton has stated she was sexually abused by her stepfather when she was twelve. Her mother remained with the man, who fled Ohio after being charged with rape and was never tried. He died in 2004. Acton said she has not seen her mother since 1978. Vance dismissed criticism of the ad, telling the media and Democrats in Ohio to stop obsessing over it. He argued that Ramaswamy had the audacity to call out what he perceived as dishonesty. When asked by the BBC if he considered the ad appropriate, Vance replied that it was not really his concern. He expressed disgust at Republicans who were complaining about the advertisement more than they were concerned about what congressional Democrats wanted to do to the United States. Trump, when asked about the ad, said he knew nothing about it but noted the unusual nature of a mother hating a daughter so intensely. He added that he did not think it had anything to do with Ramaswamy personally. Despite the bipartisan backlash, Ramaswamy pledged to spend four million dollars to air the advertisement further. Campaign spokesperson Connie Luck defended the move, stating that while the specifics of the family dispute are unknown, Acton is a serial fabulist. Acton’s brother, Philip Stearns, condemned the video as a desperate and disgusting attack. He accused Ramaswamy of turning sexual abuse into a political weapon and called the use of sexual assault as a talking point a despicable low. Opinion polls currently show Acton holding a narrow lead over Ramaswamy in the Ohio gubernatorial race. Analysts suggest the backlash against the ad could reinforce Acton’s standing and potentially impact Republican candidates in the state ahead of the midterms. Regarding his own political future, Vance reiterated that he has not decided whether he will run for president in 2028. He stated that he has not focused on the issue yet. However, he suggested that if he decides to enter the race, he believes President Trump will endorse him immediately at the start of the campaign. Vance continued to emphasize that his current priority is ensuring Republican candidates win the upcoming midterm elections in the United States.