Vance: 'Tucker Carlson is a friend - we have disagreements'
The US Vice President defends the conservative podcaster. 'Carlson and I are friends, and obviously he has said things I disagree with.' Vance: 'I'm not dodging anything.' The remarks were made against the backdrop of Carlson's sharp criticism of Israel.
US Vice President J.D. Vance rejects calls to cut ties with conservative podcaster Tucker Carlson, following the latter's sharp criticism of Israel. During a briefing at the White House, Vance was asked about his relationship with Carlson and replied that he does not intend to "play the game" where politicians throw friends under the bus due to political disagreements.
"I'm not dodging anything. Carlson and I are friends, and obviously he has said things I disagree with," Vance said.
"My approach to this is to lead by example. In the US, people let friendships be dictated by things they agree or disagree on, and that speaks to the state of the US," he said. "I'm not going to throw away friendships just because I disagree with things. I encourage people to do the same."
Vance and Carlson have maintained political and personal ties for years. Vance appeared regularly on Carlson's show on Fox News and credited him with helping him win the Senate primary in Ohio in 2022. In 2024, Carlson even pushed for Donald Trump to choose Vance as his running mate.
Today, Vance is considered a frontrunner in the race for the Republican nomination for president in 2028. However, he has long faced skepticism from Jewish Republicans, who question his commitment to the US-Israel relationship and how he addresses antisemitism within the Republican Party.
Although Vance remains loyal to pro-Israel Republicans, including President Donald Trump, his position regarding Israel remains unclear due to criticism he has voiced in the past. In July, Vance told podcaster Joe Rogan that there are elements within the Israeli government seeking to "manipulate" and "change" American public opinion regarding the war with Iran.
At the same time, Vance has faced harsh criticism for his ties to Carlson, who faced criticism from senior Republican Party officials after hosting conservative commentator Nick Fuentes, a prominent Holocaust denier, on his show.
Despite the criticism he has voiced in the past regarding the Israeli government, Vance actually praised the US-Israel relationship on Monday evening during the Republican Jewish Coalition summit, according to a transcript of his remarks obtained by the Washington Post.
"I think what we need to do is explain why it is in the interest of the United States, and go out there and talk about the ways in which it is in the interest of the United States," the Vice President said at the event.
