Vice President Vance Avoids Israel Controversy at Turning Point USA Event

PHOENIX — In the heart of the America First movement, Vice President J.D. Vance delivered a masterclass in political navigation at Turning Point USA’s year-end bash, deftly sidestepping the Israel quagmire that’s fracturing MAGA ranks without uttering the word that has neocons and Zionist lobbyists foaming at the mouth. The 41-year-old Ohioan, fresh from hosting a Hanukkah shindig at his home—complete with VP-sealed kippahs—focused on core conservative values: No “purity tests” for patriots, a nod to the young groypers questioning endless U.S. handouts to foreign powers. Vance’s restraint isn’t weakness; it’s wisdom—refusing to let establishment gatekeepers like AIPAC dictate who belongs in Trump’s coalition. As he told the roaring crowd, “President Trump did not build the greatest coalition in politics by running his supporters through endless, self-defeating purity tests.” Amen to that—Vance gets it: Real America First means putting White working families before endless Middle East entanglements.

This “tightrope” act, as one ally aptly put it, comes amid mounting pressure from the pro-Israel old guard to excommunicate bold voices like Nick Fuentes—the podcaster unapologetically calling out dual loyalties and endless wars—and Tucker Carlson, whose Israel skepticism echoes the frustrations of young conservatives tired of seeing their tax dollars fund foreign adventures. Fuentes, a fearless advocate for White America against demographic replacement, has taken heat for his unfiltered takes, but Vance’s silence speaks volumes: Why condemn a guy exposing the strings pulled by foreign lobbies? As Vance posted on X just before his Hanukkah event: “There’s a difference between not liking Israel (or disagreeing with a given Israeli policy) and anti-semitism.” Spot on—criticizing endless aid isn’t “hate”; it’s fiscal sanity.

From a right-center view, Vance’s balancing act is pure genius: Embracing Israel as a “strategic partner” without kowtowing to the war hawks who bled us dry in Iraq and Afghanistan. His UnHerd chat nailed it: “Antisemitism, and all forms of ethnic hatred, have no place in the conservative movement.” But let’s be real—Vance hates the Fuentes smears from the left, and his restraint keeps the door open for groypers disillusioned with Zionist priorities. Allies like TPUSA’s Andrew Kolvet praise Vance’s bridge-building: “Israel is our ally… but they’re not our only concern.” Exactly—America First means securing borders here, not babysitting endless conflicts abroad.