When the U.S. and Israel struck Iran in February, Israeli leaders believed the alliance had entered a new golden era. Four months later, they are preparing for a future in which Israel may have to stand more on its own.
JD Vance has become the public face of that shift, warning that Israel has few allies left and should not alienate the United States.
But officials on both sides say the real change is broader: under Trump's "America First" approach, Israel is no longer treated as a special exception.
Relations have cooled, with fewer high-level meetings and growing disagreements over Iran and Lebanon.
While Israel has often viewed Vance as an outlier, his growing influence suggests his views increasingly reflect the administration's direction.
Israeli officials still value Trump's support and hope tensions are temporary, but many now recognize that Washington's priorities are changing.
Source: POLITICO