Nearly 1,000 prominent Jewish donors affiliated with the Republican Party convened Sunday at the Venetian in Las Vegas for the Republican Jewish Coalition’s annual summit. The two-day event served as both a show of unity and a forum for underlying concerns about the party’s future stance on Israel.

Speakers at the gathering singled out Michigan Democratic Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed, repeatedly using his full name, Abdulrahman Mohamed El-Sayed, to jeer him, while also targeting the Democratic Socialists of America as a shared adversary. Florida Republican Representative Randy Fine described the opposition as united by "hatred of the Jewish people," prompting applause from attendees.

Despite the spirited rhetoric, a palpable tension simmered beneath the surface as some Republican Jewish participants expressed unease about whether the party would maintain its longstanding strong support for Israel after President Donald Trump leaves office. This apprehension was heightened by the decision to invite Vice President JD Vance—known for advocating a more distant U.S. relationship with Israel and his association with the party’s America First isolationist wing—to address the summit on Monday night.

Vance’s controversial remarks, including allegations linking Jeffrey Epstein to Israeli intelligence, have drawn criticism from pro-Israel Republicans. One participant remarked on Vance’s presence with surprise, noting his apparent presidential ambitions.

Support for Israel has historically been a core pillar of Republican politics, backed robustly by voters. However, recent trends indicate a shift, particularly among younger Republicans. The party faces internal challenges as figures like Tucker Carlson and Candace Owens, once mainstream conservatives, increasingly oppose U.S. aid to Israel and have faced accusations of antisemitism. An April survey by Pew Research Center highlighted that 57% of Republicans aged 18 to 49 hold unfavorable views of Israel, compared with 41% of Republicans overall.

The summit, restricted to members of the coalition’s National Leadership level—requiring a minimum contribution of $1,000—and their guests, displayed the influence of attendees through the presence of major tech corporations such as TikTok, Google, and Meta. These companies maintained booths within the venue alongside a fundraising table for Magen David Adom, Israel’s emergency medical service.

Among the political figures present were three of the four Jewish Republicans in the House—Randy Fine, David Kustoff, and Craig Goldman—while Ohio’s Max Miller was notably absent. Kustoff, speaking to media, warned that efforts to condition or reduce U.S. aid to Israel would send a negative message to America’s allies, referencing a recent House proposal by Republican Thomas Massie to halt $3.3 billion in assistance, which received support from over 100 Democrats.

Both Fine and Goldman attributed the erosion of support for Israel within their party largely to misinformation and ignorance. Fine, who recently overcame a primary challenge from far-right influencer Dan Bilzerian—whose campaign included antisemitic rhetoric—pointed to exaggerated perceptions about the cost of U.S. aid to Israel. “There’s been such an obsession with that $3.8 billion,” Fine said, emphasizing it is a small fraction of overall military spending and that much of the controversy is fueled by misinformation online. Goldman echoed this sentiment, citing a lack of awareness among younger Republicans about the strategic importance of the U.S.-Israel alliance.

Despite these concerns, the summit’s opening night did not focus heavily on strategies to regain the support of younger Republicans, nearly 20% of whom reportedly expressed support for Hamas attacks against Israeli civilians in recent polls. Instead, the prevailing narrative centered on the perceived threat posed by a Democratic majority in Congress to both Jewish communities and Israel itself.

This internal party debate may intensify when Vance delivers his address on Monday, potentially exposing further divisions within the Republican coalition over the future of U.S.-Israel relations.