LAS VEGAS (VINnews) — Vice President JD Vance will speak Monday at the Republican Jewish Coalition’s annual National Leadership Summit, the group confirmed, even as a number of Jewish conservatives say he has alienated pro-Israel Republicans.

An RJC spokesperson said the organization is “proud to welcome Vice President JD Vance” to the gathering at the Venetian Resort. “JD Vance is a friend who is coming back after first joining us in 2022 as a candidate for the U.S. Senate.”

The vice president is scheduled to appear in a closed-to-press fireside chat during Monday evening’s VIP session. President Donald Trump is expected to deliver videotaped remarks at the gala dinner.

Vance’s appearance comes as some Jewish Republicans and major GOP donors have said they would prefer Secretary of State Marco Rubio over Vance for the 2028 presidential nomination. Vance is widely viewed as Trump’s likeliest successor. Some of those donors are expected to be in the room Monday. The Venetian is owned by the Adelson family, longtime backers of Trump and of Jewish and Israeli causes.

Critics say Vance has lost standing with parts of the pro-Israel community through public criticism of Israeli officials, comments they describe as indulging anti-Israel conspiracy theories, and his silence on commentator Tucker Carlson, who has platformed guests accused of spreading antisemitic ideas. Multiple donors told the Jewish Telegraphic Agency at last year’s summit that they would not support Vance in 2028.

Carlson was a central topic at the RJC’s 2025 conference, where attendees were handed signs reading “Tucker is not MAGA.” Carlson’s son, Buckley Carlson, previously worked on Vance’s staff.

The two-day summit, being held Sunday and Monday a few months before the midterm elections, is also expected to feature several high-profile Republican Senate candidates, including Rep. Mike Collins of Georgia, who is challenging Sen. Jon Ossoff, and former Rep. Mike Rogers, who is running in Michigan.

Collins has faced accusations of antisemitism and far-right associations. He has said some of his remarks were misunderstood and has pointed to his support for Israel.

Vance first attended an RJC event in 2022 while running for the Senate from Ohio. This will be his first appearance at the annual summit since taking office.