Vance not attending Netanyahu speech to Congress

Sen. JD Vance (Ohio) will not attend the speech to a joint session of Congress by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday, a Trump campaign adviser told The Hill on Monday. 

Jason Miller, senior adviser to the Trump campaign, said in a statement that Vance has “duties to fulfill as the Republican nominee for Vice President.”

“Senator Vance stands steadfastly with the people of Israel in their fight to defend their homeland, eradicate terrorist threats, and bring back their countrymen held hostage,” Miller said.

“He will not, however, be in attendance for Prime Minister Netanyahu’s speech to Congress.”

Vance, who is holding campaign events in Ohio and Virginia on Monday, will defer to former President Trump for direct communication with Netanyahu this week, according to a source familiar with the matter. 

Netanyahu’s speech comes as he faces growing calls to move on a Gaza cease-fire deal backed by the Biden administration.

Israel’s war against Hamas in the wake of the militant’s group’s October terrorist attack has faced rising scrutiny from Democrats, some of whom plan to boycott his address.