J Street is deeply alarmed at the selection of JD Vance as Donald Trump’s running mate. A Trump-Vance White House would be a disaster for America’s democracy, the Jewish community, and Israel’s long-term future as a proud, safe and democratic homeland for the Jewish people.

JD Vance has said it is “right” for American Jews to be “ashamed” of voting for President Biden, defended Trump after dining with antisemitic white supremacist Nick Fuentes, and has repeatedly echoed the racist, antisemitic “Great Replacement” conspiracy theory, which has led to lethal attacks on Jews and immigrants.

Vance would not have certified the 2020 election results, has regularly excused and minimized the events of January 6, raised money for the rioters, and heaped praise upon Project 2025 and the Heritage Foundation that authored it.

Vance has championed a political alliance between Republicans and the Israeli far-right, describing it as a “real opportunity.” He has rejected red lines for the Netanyahu government in Gaza and criticized President Biden for seeking to protect Palestinian civilians. He has implied that Palestinian refugees are “terrorist sympathizers” and described providing humanitarian aid to Palestinian citizens as “stupid.”

Vance is among the leading opponents of security aid to Ukraine and a fierce opponent of a diplomatic agreement to block Iran’s path to a nuclear weapon – instead appearing to advocate for a regional arms race to “keep the nuclear program in check.”

“With Trump and Vance in the White House, the Israeli right would have full US support for their wildest fantasies – a judicial coup, West Bank annexation, settlements in Gaza and military confrontations with both Hezbollah and Iran,” said J Street President Jeremy Ben-Ami. “Vance will enthusiastically help bulldoze the democratic foundations of our union, embed antisemitic conspiracy theories deeper into our society, and hand victory to Putin in Ukraine. We cannot afford to have Donald Trump and JD Vance in the White House.”