President and Vice President

Pablo Nankin MD

President Donald Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance in the Situation Room of the White House, Saturday, June 21, 2025. Photo by The White House – Flickr, Public Domain, Wikipedia

We had a close friend, a lifelong Democrat, whom we all loved and respected. Politics never got in the way of our friendship. During one of our regular Monday lunches, he made a comment that stayed with me: “Just wait until Trump opens his mouth.” We all laughed and enjoyed the afternoon.

As the months have passed, his position on Gaza has seemed to shift repeatedly. At one point, he spoke of disarming Gaza and rebuilding it into something beautiful. Later, the focus became simply demanding the disarmament of Hamas, while broader objectives appeared less clear.

Attention then turned to Iran. For years, Israel had warned the United States that Iran’s nuclear program was moving steadily closer to the capability of producing nuclear weapons. Eventually, the president responded by deploying substantial U.S. military forces to the Gulf. Following escalating verbal confrontations, Israel launched strikes against Iranian military targets, including air bases and missile-launching facilities. The United States later joined the operation. Together, the two countries demonstrated the capability to inflict significant damage on Iran’s military infrastructure.
Afterward, the administration returned to diplomacy, giving Iran additional opportunities to negotiate. During this period, concerns also arose over the Strait of Hormuz, whose closure would have threatened global shipping and energy supplies. The United States and its allies worked to ensure that this vital waterway remained open.

In my view, the president then shifted course once again, seeking a broader accommodation with Iran by easing pressure and offering incentives. I believe this approach came at a cost. Israel bore the greatest burden, with Israeli civilians paying the highest price in lives lost and injuries suffered.
More recently, the United States has pressed Israel to reduce or halt military operations in Lebanon despite repeated rocket attacks by Hezbollah that have killed and wounded Israelis. Many Israelis understandably question whether sufficient attention has been given to their security concerns.
I also have concerns about the vice president. In my opinion, his public statements have often appeared unsympathetic toward Israel, particularly his support for renewed engagement with Iran. I was also struck by the fact that during his visit to Israel, he did not visit the Western Wall, one of Judaism’s holiest sites. While there may have been reasons for that decision, I believe it sent an unfortunate message and has been interpreted by many as a sign of disrespect toward Israel and the Jewish people.