Former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley challenged Vice President JD Vance on Tuesday to clarify his position regarding Israel and his alignment with political factions, The Hill reports. She argued that the vice president is attempting to maintain a middle ground that is fundamentally incompatible with the current political landscape.
“Right is right. Wrong is wrong. In life, you must choose a side. You are either with the Tucker Carlson wing of the country or you are with the pro Israel wing of the country,” she wrote on social media. “You can’t be both.”
Haley, who previously ran for the GOP presidential nomination, emphasized the necessity of picking a lane by referencing a quote from Nobel Prize winner and Holocaust survivor Elie Wiesel. During his 1986 acceptance speech, Wiesel stated, “We must always take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim.”
The tension surrounding Vance stems from his complex history regarding foreign policy and his personal associations
While he has maintained loyalty to President Trump and other pro-Israel Republicans, his past remarks have created significant ambiguity. In a July appearance on a podcast hosted by Joe Rogan, Vance suggested that some figures within the Israeli government were attempting to manipulate American public opinion regarding the war in Iran.
Vance also faces scrutiny due to his connections with Tucker Carlson. The former television host has drawn sharp criticism from various GOP leaders for providing a platform to Nick Fuentes, a well-known Holocaust denier.
Despite this, Vance addressed the topic during the Republican Jewish Coalition summit held on Monday night. According to records of his remarks, he took the opportunity to explicitly address Fuentes, labeling him as someone “who really does hate Jews.” Vance further commented on the situation by noting, “And also, by the way, really hates me and my family, so you’re in good company; that is real.”
At that same summit, the vice president spoke favorably about the bond between the United States and Israel. He told the audience that the goal is to explain why the relationship serves the best interest of the country. “I think my view is what we have to do is articulate why this is in the best interest of the United States of America and actually get out there and talk about the ways in which it is in the best interest of the United States of America,” Vance said.
Even with these comments, some Jewish Republicans expressed frustration that the vice president did not more thoroughly address his ties to Carlson. This political pressure is mounting as Vance looks toward the 2028 election cycle. He is widely expected to compete for the GOP presidential nomination, potentially against other party figures such as Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
The White House did not provide an immediate response to requests for comment regarding the critique from Haley.
Published: Sep 2, 2026 01:30 pm