Vice President Mike Pence on Monday slammed the multiple Democratic presidential candidates who are skipping the annual AIPAC policy conference, telling the group's Washington gathering that any White House hopeful should stand with Israel.
"Let me be clear on this point, anyone who aspires to the highest office in the land should not be afraid to stand with the strongest supporters of Israel in America," Pence said. "It is wrong to boycott Israel and it is wrong to boycott AIPAC."
Top Democratic presidential candidates — Kamala Harris, Beto O'Rourke, Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders — declined to attend the event hosted by the American Israel Public Affairs Committee. One potential Democratic presidential candidate, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio, spoke at the event on Monday.
Democratic presidential candidates have traditionally attended the gathering ahead of elections, including Hillary Clinton in both 2008 and 2016. Former President Barack Obama also attended the event during his 2008 campaign.
This year, the liberal group MoveOn called on Democratic 2020 hopefuls to skip the conference due to the group's link to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, whose agenda closely aligns with that of U.S. President Donald Trump, and claims that AIPAC has engaged in Islamophobia.
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05.06.2025