A fundraiser hosted by Vice President JD Vance in the Hamptons on Wednesday is raising red flags among some Jewish Republicans who continue to harbor concerns over his likely intention to run for president in 2028. 

The event, first reported by Axios, was notably held in the home of Omeed Malik, the Iranian American investor who was an important early backer of Tucker Carlson’s media company. The fundraiser highlights Vance’s ongoing ties to Carlson’s network — even as the far-right commentator has faced backlash for his regular promotion of antisemitic conspiracy theories about Jews and Israel.

Carlson also recently pledged to help start a third political party after breaking with President Donald Trump over the war with Iran, which Vance himself has reportedly privately opposed.

As Vance mulls a presidential bid, the fundraiser — where he reportedly raised $5 million — shows how he is building a coalition of younger donors from the populist right who are poised to meaningfully shape the upcoming campaign to define a post-Trump era.

In addition to Malik, the fundraiser also reportedly included Donald Trump Jr., a close ally of Vance as well as Carlson. Malik is a business partner of Trump Jr. in their investment firm 1789 Capital, which raised significant funding from Middle East and other foreign investors and has done business with the Qatar Investment Authority. In January, Malik appeared with Trump Jr. and Carlson at the Doha Forum in Qatar, following the May 2025 Qatar Economic Forum where Trump Jr. and Malik spoke on a joint panel session titled “Investing in America.”

The event underscores the anxieties among some traditional Republicans who are skeptical of Vance’s indulgence of antisemitic forces on the far right and commitment to a strong relationship with Israel that has long been a key GOP value but is now waning among the party’s younger voters. 

Jewish conservatives voiced their concerns about the fundraiser on social media as the invitation surfaced online Thursday.  

Vance has in recent months stepped up his criticism of Israel — alleging Israeli influence campaigns have been “manipulating” U.S. opinion of the Iran war, for instance, while publicly rebuking Israeli officials over disagreements regarding negotiations with Tehran.

Many Jewish Republican donors remain wary of Vance as speculation mounts over who will run for president in 2028 and whether he would be the front-runner.

While the vice president has made some overtures to Jewish Republicans, the Wednesday night fundraiser indicates he is embracing a potential route that could increasingly alienate the pro-Israel community.