Vice President J.D. Vance recently defended his relationships with prominent media personalities Tucker Carlson, Joe Rogan, and Megyn Kelly during a closed-door gathering of influential Jewish conservatives in Las Vegas. The remarks, according to leaked audio obtained by the New York Times, were made at a Republican Jewish Coalition event where Vance faced questions regarding his ties to figures who have expressed criticisms of Israel and the Trump administration’s foreign policy.
"I think the best approach is actually go in there and talk to him and make the argument as best as you can." J.D. Vance, Vice President
Attendees at the private summit, including former Republican Senator Norm Coleman, reportedly pressed Vance on the influence of Carlson, Kelly, Rogan, and also Nick Fuentes, a figure Vance has previously disavowed. The questioning underscored a tension within the Republican coalition, balancing the broad appeal of these media figures with traditional conservative stances on foreign policy and alliances.
In his defense, Vance acknowledged potential disagreements with the views expressed by Carlson, Kelly, or Rogan. "A lot of people in this room are going to disagree with things that Tucker Carlson or Megyn Kelly or Joe Rogan have said," Vance told the audience. However, he argued that such disagreements should not preclude engagement. Instead, Vance advocated for a strategy of direct dialogue to present the administration's perspective effectively. "I think the best approach is actually go in there and talk to him and make the argument as best as you can," he stated, referring to figures like Rogan.
Vance drew a sharp distinction between Joe Rogan and Nick Fuentes. He categorized them as "two very, very different categories of people" based on their reach and beliefs. Vance unequivocally condemned Fuentes, stating, "Obviously, I’m not going to go talk to a guy who’s attacked my wife or who said that Hitler was a good guy." This clear denunciation of Fuentes reportedly garnered a standing ovation from the Jewish conservative voters present at the private summit.
The Vice President's defense comes as Carlson, Kelly, and Rogan have solidified their positions as influential voices within the Republican movement, despite occasional divergences from the administration's official foreign policy positions. All three played significant roles in supporting the Trump-Vance ticket during the 2024 presidential campaign. Carlson campaigned for the Republican ticket, while Kelly endorsed President Donald Trump at a rally in Pittsburgh. Rogan interviewed President Trump shortly before Election Day, an episode that garnered over 40 million online views, according to the Daily Mail.
Carlson’s relationship with Vance extends back years, with the former Fox News host featuring Vance on his program multiple times, including Vance’s first television interview after launching his 2021 U.S. Senate campaign in Ohio. Their association has drawn increased scrutiny as Carlson has become an outspoken critic of U.S. support for Israel and the administration’s approach to the Middle East. Similarly, Rogan and Kelly have criticized the Trump administration over the Iran war, even while supporting the Trump-Vance ticket. Vance himself returned to Rogan's podcast in July for an extended conversation where he defended the administration's handling of Iran, though he acknowledged mistakes in its response to the Epstein files, as reported by the Daily Mail.
During his Las Vegas remarks, Vance also addressed the growing skepticism among younger Americans regarding the U.S. relationship with Israel, describing it as one of the "obvious elephants in the room." A February Gallup poll, cited by the Daily Mail, found that 53% of Americans aged 18 to 34 sympathized more with Palestinians, compared to 23% who sympathized more with Israelis. Vance emphasized the necessity for proponents of the U.S.-Israel alliance to articulate its benefits to American interests, rather than assuming automatic support from younger voters. "What we have to do is articulate why this is in the best interest of the United States of America," Vance asserted. "I think it’s very, very important to talk about the concrete alignment of interest, and to hook the relationship on that."
These leaked private remarks offer a valuable glimpse into how Vice President Vance is navigating the complex internal divisions within the Republican coalition. They reveal his strategy for engaging with influential media figures who appeal to a broad base, even when their views diverge from traditional party lines on critical foreign policy issues. The issue of balancing these relationships and articulating a coherent foreign policy vision could become increasingly important for Vance as Republicans look towards the next presidential election, particularly given his widespread consideration as a potential contender for the 2028 Republican presidential nomination.
