The White House pushed back Sunday against claims circulating in Israeli media that Vice President JD Vance was planning a trip to Israel in the coming days.
“Media reports that the vice president will visit Israel are false,” a White House official stated, confirming that Vance is expected to return to Washington on Monday.
The official further explained that although the Secret Service had developed contingency plans that involved several countries, “no additional visits were at any point decided upon, and logistical constraints have precluded an extension of his travel beyond Rome.”
Earlier on Sunday, journalist Amit Segal of Channel 12 News reported that Vance was scheduled to land in Israel on Tuesday.
According to Segal’s report, Israeli leaders interpreted the rumored visit as a strong signal reaffirming the enduring alliance between Israel and the United States—particularly after President Donald Trump’s recent Middle East trip did not include a stop in Israel.
The report also mentioned that arrangements were supposedly underway to facilitate high-level meetings between Vance and top members of the Israeli government.
Although Trump opted not to travel to Israel during his recent regional tour, he rejected any suggestion of friction with Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu in an interview with Fox News.
“No, look, he’s got a tough situation. You have to remember, there was October 7 that everyone forgets. It was one of the most violent days in the history of the world, not the Middle East, the world, when you look at the tapes,” Trump said.
Speaking about Netanyahu’s leadership during the ongoing conflict, Trump remarked, “He’s an angry man, who has been hurt badly by the war, but he’s fought hard and bravely.”
{Matzav.com}