Michael Whatley
Whatley, the former RNC chair, has stated general support, "We stand by Israel. We stand with the Jewish people," and made "pro-Israel" a party identity claim. No statement was located from him on any specific U.S. aid package, weapons transfer, or money to Palestinians.
Whatley chaired the North Carolina GOP and then the Republican National Committee before becoming the 2026 Senate nominee. He has never held public office and has no votes; his record is party rhetoric, and on the aid question itself it is empty: no located statement on any specific package, transfer, or conditioning question.
What he has said is allegiance. At the September 2024 Republican Jewish Coalition summit, as reported by the Jerusalem Post: "We stand by Israel. We stand with the Jewish people." At a November 2024 campaign event: "as long as I'm the chair of the RNC, we are absolutely pro-life, we are pro-family, and we are pro-Israel." As RNC chair in May 2024 he attacked the administration for "backtrack[ing] on his support for Israel" and called for restoring "peace through strength." The Republican Jewish Coalition endorsed him in April 2026.
The same JPost exchange shows how he handles the antisemitism question: "There is no element of antisemitism within the Republican Party... If you want to talk about antisemitism, you need to go across the aisle," and, asked about a North Carolina legislative candidate with reported ties to Nazi groups, "I have no idea what you're talking about." In October 2025 state Democrats criticized him for declining to condemn a political ally's antisemitic and racist group texts; that account comes from an opposition source.
If you want his actual aid position, you are better placed to get it than we are: ask Whatley directly and send us the reply.
Research
U.S. military aid and weapons to Israel
- No specific statement or policy position located on aid packages, weapons transfers, or conditions; his support statements are general (we searched his RNC and campaign record).
U.S. aid to Palestinians
- Nothing located.
Characterization of the conflict
- [Reaction window, 2023-10-07, reported] Condemned Hamas terrorism; Israel's right to defend itself. Off the card. The existing record's undated North State Journal op-ed spans ("far more than geopolitical, more than cultural - it's moral") date to October 2023 per the record's prior research; reaction window; record quotes carry them.
- [Position, 2024-05-06] RNC statement: "Joe Biden's weakness is on display for all the world to see as he refuses to condemn the antisemitic violence on college campuses and continues to backtrack on his support for Israel"; "this is no time for ambiguity - we need President Donald J. Trump back in office to restore order, support our critical ally, Israel, and bring peace through strength once more" (reported; the RJC video release page is the nearest source).
- [Position, 2024-09-05] At the RJC summit, attributed the conflict's duration to administration weakness (Washington Examiner, Dispatch).
Related rhetoric and lobbying
- [Position, 2024-09-05] RJC summit, JPost, read and verified verbatim: "We stand by Israel. We stand with the Jewish people" (spoken within his answer on antisemitism).
- [Position, 2024-11-01] "Believers and Ballots" event, Austell, Georgia (Al Jazeera longform): "Let me just tell you, as long as I'm the chair of the RNC, we are absolutely pro-life, we are pro-family, and we are pro-Israel."
- [Position, 2026-04-21] RJC endorsement of his Senate campaign (Jewish Insider, RJC). RJC support $25,022 this cycle ($30,022 lifetime) is a badge; not restated.
- [Position, 2024-10-21, record's prior research] Called himself a strong supporter of Israel in an interview (existing record quote).
Safety and antisemitism (context)
- [Position, 2024-09-05] The JPost exchange, verified verbatim: "There is no element of antisemitism within the Republican Party... If you want to talk about antisemitism, you need to go across the aisle"; on the North Carolina candidate with reported Nazi-group ties: "I have no idea what you're talking about."
- [Position, 2025-10-29, opposition source] The NC Democratic Party criticized him for declining to condemn a political ally's antisemitic and racist group texts. Partisan source; recorded as their account, asserted as nothing more.
Also in this race: Shannon Bray (Libertarian), Roy Cooper (Democrat), Shaunesi Yvette Deberry (Independent), Michael Louis Jr. Dublin (Green), Brian Mcginnis (Green) · All North Carolina candidates.
See the full record →But What Can You Do? tracks where 2026 candidates stand on U.S. weapons and funding for the government of Israel. Every claim on this page goes through at least two verification steps. Open the interactive card for votes, funding and contact details.