Rep. Randy Fine, a Jewish Republican from Florida, says he will not support Vice President JD Vance if Vance seeks the presidency in 2028. Fine called Vance’s post-election analysis offensive and accused him of blaming Jewish people for Republican losses.
“He’s out in my book,” Fine said, arguing that Vance’s comments echoed antisemitic rhetoric.
The dispute comes as Republicans assess the midterm results, which saw the party lose control of both the House and Senate. It also reflects a broader disagreement within the GOP over how to balance an America-first agenda with support for Israel.
In his analysis, Vance pointed to polling that found some voters wanted Republicans to end the war in Iran, address the cost of living, prioritize American interests and reconsider the U.S. relationship with Israel. He wrote that these concerns had led many voters to support Democrats. Vance also said the war was a major reason Republicans lost, citing remarks President Trump made after the election.
Fine offered a different interpretation. He argued that three of the four concerns Vance listed were, in effect, references to Israel. Though Vance did not specifically mention Jewish people, Fine said he sees Israel and Jewish identity as closely connected.
Fine also drew a distinction between Vance’s comments and Trump’s position on the Iran conflict. He pointed to Trump saying he would wage the war again because Iran must not be allowed to obtain a nuclear weapon. Fine questioned whether Vance shared that concern.
Vance’s office did not respond to Fine’s criticism.
Fine has been a prominent supporter of Israel in the House and has backed several related legislative efforts, including sanctions on Iran. He urged Republicans not to blame Israel for the party’s midterm performance.
Fine said Republicans risk repeating their losses if they fail to identify what went wrong, adding that Vance’s analysis showed he did not understand the reasons for the defeat.
