(MENAFN) US Vice President JD Vance on Wednesday dismissed accusations that Israel influences American policymaking, asserting that President Donald Trump’s administration prioritizes the interests of the United States above all else.

“They’re not controlling this president of the United States,” Vance declared during a Turning Point USA gathering at the University of Mississippi.

“When the president of the United States says ‘America first,’ that means he pursues the interests of Americans first. That is our entire foreign policy.”

Vance stated that Washington intends to maintain cooperation with its partners when mutual goals coincide but stressed that the Trump administration is prepared to take a different course when they do not.

“In this example, the most recent Gaza peace plan that all of us have been working on very hard for the past few weeks, the president could only get that peace deal done by actually being willing to apply leverage to the state of Israel.”

Earlier this month, a ceasefire was achieved in Gaza following Trump’s introduction of a 20-point initiative, which also calls for the restoration of the Palestinian territory devastated during Israel’s two-year campaign.

During the session, Vance fielded questions from attendees at the conservative youth organization’s event.

He was joined by Erika Kirk, the group’s chief executive officer and widow of its late founder, Charlie Kirk.

Charlie Kirk, aged 31, who founded Turning Point USA, was fatally shot on September 10 by a sniper while addressing students at Utah Valley University.

Law enforcement identified the assailant as 22-year-old Tyler Robinson, who is currently detained awaiting trial.

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