US Vice President JD Vance publicly acknowledged on June 11 that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu "has certainly gotten some things wrong" in his dealings with Washington but did not specify what those mistakes were [1, 2]. Vance said such disagreements were best kept private.
Speaking in an interview excerpt released this day, Vance said Netanyahu "aggressively asserts the interests of his country – sometimes that means we're on the same page, sometimes it means we're not" [1]. He added, "Where that diverges, we, unfortunately for the Israelis, have to choose the side of the American people, which we always do" [3]. Vance emphasized that the US administration's priority remains focused on what benefits the American people [2].
Relations between the US and Israel have strained amid recent conflicts involving Iran and Hezbollah militants in Lebanon. Both the US and Israel have conducted airstrikes on Iran, and Israel has carried out operations against Hezbollah targets in Lebanon [1, 2]. Reports from early June detailed clashes between US President Donald Trump and Netanyahu, including Trump allegedly calling Netanyahu an "ungrateful bastard" over disagreements on military action in Lebanon and negotiations with Iran [2].
A temporary ceasefire took effect on April 8, 2026, between the US, Israel, and Iran following prior strikes. However, recent hostilities have renewed and diplomatic talks have stalled [1, 2]. Despite these tensions, Vance described Netanyahu as "a good partner," saying the US and Israel will continue close cooperation [3].
Vance's full interview is set to air on CBS on June 14, where he is expected to address US-Israel relations in more detail [3].
