U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance said Thursday evening that President Donald Trump is the only head of state in the world who currently shows sympathy for Israel. He added that two-thirds of the defensive arms protecting Israel were built by American workers and funded by U.S. taxpayers, according to a statement attributed to Vance by Israeli media.
VP Vance's Thursday evening remarks — in which he said President Trump is the only world leader showing sympathy for Israel and noted that two-thirds of Israel's defensive arms are U.S.-built and funded — represent the latest and sharpest version of a message the White House has been pressing all evening. The statement expands on Vance's earlier warning that Israel 'would not attack the only strong ally it has left' (The Zioneer, Thu 20:04) and follows a series of increasingly direct Vance statements that began at 19:16 Jerusalem.
The thread shows a rapid escalation across multiple Vance statements, all published at 19:16 Jerusalem on Thursday, June 18. The earliest version (The Zioneer, Thu 19:16) reported Vance saying, 'do not attack the only leader in the world who supports you.' Within minutes, additional versions added that 'Israel was built from American money'; that two-thirds of Israel's defensive weapons were recently U.S.-built and paid for; and that the state of Israel 'was built from our money.' The 20:04 update (The Zioneer, Thu 20:04) sharpened the warning further, with Vance stating that if he were an Israeli cabinet member he 'would not attack the only strong ally' Israel has left. The current version adds the specific proportion — two-thirds — and frames Trump as uniquely sympathetic among world leaders.
As The Zioneer reported earlier Thursday (Thu 19:27), the Vance camp's subtext is to remind Israel of its reliance on U.S. manufacturing and funding. These statements also follow a broader Vance interview earlier this week (The Zioneer, Mon Jun 15 17:06 Jerusalem) in which he said Washington is speaking directly with Iran and that Gulf states support the Trump deal. A commentator, Yinon Magal, posted a similar framing of U.S. funding at 19:43 Jerusalem (The Zioneer, Thu 19:43), highlighting that the message was resonating in Israeli public discourse.
No official Israeli government response to the latest Vance statement has been reported yet.
8 developments
- DevelopingVP Vance warns Israeli cabinet: 'Don't attack the only world leader who supports you'
- DevelopingVP Vance sharply rebukes Israeli ministers who oppose Iran deal: 'I wouldn't attack your last ally'
- StrongVP Vance says US speaks directly with Iran, calls Gulf states allies of Trump deal
- DevelopingSenior UAE analyst: Only Trump and Vance trust Iran
Source and signal
- Internal intake