Most Americans are not antisemitic, but concerns over Israel reflect “a real backlash to consensus view in American foreign policy,” United States Vice President JD Vance assessed in a Monday interview with UnHerd.
When asked why some antisemitic figures, such as online personality Nick Fuentes, were gaining popularity, Vance said, “Because 99% of Republicans, and I think probably 97% of Democrats, do not hate Jewish people for being Jewish.
“What is actually happening is that there is a real backlash to a consensus view in American foreign policy,” Vance told the British news and opinion website. “I think we already had that conversation and [should] not try to shut it down. Most Americans aren’t antisemitic. They’re never going to be antisemitic, and I think we should focus on the real debate.”
Nick Fuentes a 'useful foil' for pro-Israel conservatives, Vance says
The vice president said Fuentes serves as a “useful foil” for some pro-Israel conservatives, allowing them to avoid a substantive discussion about US policy toward Israel.
“Frankly, it’s overstated by people who want to avoid having a foreign policy conversation about America’s relationship with Israel,” he was quoted as saying.
Vance said that while he believes “Israel is an important ally... we’re also going to have very substantive disagreements with Israel – and that’s OK.”