Vice President JD Vance accepted an invitation to speak at the Republican Jewish Coalition's biannual conference in Las Vegas, seeking to mend fences with a skeptical donor base. His appearance comes amid heightened tensions over his diplomatic efforts with Iran and his close ties to conservative commentator Tucker Carlson. Many Jewish conservatives remain uneasy about Mr. Vance's associations, particularly regarding antisemitism and the U.S.-Israel relationship.

In closed-door remarks, Vance defended his relationships with divisive influencers and drew parallels between his Catholic faith and Judaism. However, his outreach was complicated by a recent rally in Michigan, where he called Democratic Senate nominee Dr. Abdul El-Sayed "very, very evil." The tension was palpable among attendees, with conservative radio personality Sid Rosenberg imploring the crowd to give Vance a chance. Critics, including former Senator Norm Coleman, condemned Mr. Carlson for platforming Holocaust deniers and smearing Jewish conservatives.

Despite the friction, Vance's team views the appearance as a necessary step to secure support from one of the Republican party's most influential holdouts ahead of the 2024 primary contest.