As JD Vance holiday-visits the UK, he flouts recognition of Palestine while fishing with Lammy
U.S. Vice-President J.D. Vance arrived in the United Kingdom on 8 August 2025, combining a family holiday with an unexpectedly sharp diplomatic jolt. Despite friendly carp-fishing banter with British Foreign Secretary David Lammy at the stately Chevening House, Vance unleashed a political bombshell: Washington has no plans to recognise a Palestinian state.
Moments before the two politicians cast their lines, Vance acknowledged that the U.S. and the UK may disagree over how best to resolve the Gaza conflict, even though they share the same overarching objective: ending the war. He emphasised that, unlike Britain—which, along with France and Canada, has signalled conditional recognition of Palestine—the U.S. refuses to extend such recognition “given the lack of a functional government” there.
The scene could not have contrasted more sharply with the underlying message. Lammy and Vance appeared at ease in casual attire, trading fishing tips and jokes—Vance wryly quipped that “all my kids caught fish, but the foreign secretary did not,” dubbing it the “one strain on the special relationship.”
Yet beneath this convivial facade, their discussions embraced weighty geopolitics. The bilateral agenda included the war in Ukraine, trade and technology cooperation, and a frank exploration of Gaza policy. Observers described the conversation as constructive, even amid diverging approaches.
Vance also took aim at Western trends he perceives as dangerous. He cautioned Britain—and, by implication, other democracies—against sliding down a “very dark path” of censorship, warning that democracies “got too comfortable with censoring” rather than engaging with diverse opinions. Lammy responded by praising democratic resilience, insisting that robust debate remains a hallmark of societies like Britain’s.
The backdrop to this visit makes Vance’s remarks even more startling. Just weeks earlier, the UK government announced intentions to recognise a Palestinian state as early as September, demanding progress from Israel in the Gaza ceasefire and humanitarian aid. That approach starkly contradicts Vance’s position—not least because U.S. policy, under President Trump, rejects statehood recognition, arguing it would reward Hamas.
The trip comes amid mixed emotions. Petitions and protests greeted Vance’s arrival, as pro-Palestinian groups, trade unions, and climate activists voiced their disapproval. The combination of public dissent and cordial private meetings highlighted the complexity of transatlantic diplomacy.
Vance’s family—his wife Usha and their three children—are accompanying him on this unorthodox “working holiday,” with plans to retreat to the Cotswolds and later Scotland. It is an unusual mix of leisure and diplomacy, blending quiet family moments with high-stakes policy discussions.
Ultimately, this episode underscores a deep transatlantic fault line. Beneath shared heritage and personal friendship, Vance made clear that the U.S. and UK share a goal but diverge dramatically on how to get there. His refusal to recognise Palestinian statehood, delivered with his family at his side and a fishing rod in hand, packs a surreal punch.