Former National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan disclosed that he had privately informed Democratic lawmakers of his support for measures to withhold US weapons from Israel, citing the situation in Gaza following the breakdown of a ceasefire earlier this year, during an appearance on The Bulwark podcast on Wednesday.
On the podcast, hosted by Tim Miller, he said he had advised members of Congress considering resolutions to restrict arms sales, particularly in light of the collapse of a ceasefire in March 2025.
“I have, in fact, told a number of members who were thinking about the votes on these resolutions that the situation as it stands today, following the breakdown of the ceasefire in March, means that a vote to withhold weapons to Israel is a totally credible position. That is a position I would support,” Sullivan said.
The comments refer to resolutions introduced by Vermont Independent Rep. Bernie Sanders aimed at blocking certain arms transfers to Israel. The measures failed in the Senate but, for the first time, more than half of Democratic senators backed one of them, with 27 Democrats voting in favor in July 2025, amid concerns over Israel’s military operations in Gaza.
Sullivan's stance shifts from time in Biden administration
Sullivan’s remarks mark a shift from his role in the Biden administration, where he had previously lobbied Democratic lawmakers to oppose similar restrictions on arms to Israel during the first 18 months of the conflict. During that period, the administration provided significant military support to Israel in response to the October 7, 2023, Hamas attacks that killed approximately 1,200 people and led to the abduction of 251 hostages.
He framed his current position within broader discussions about the future of US-Israel relations, noting concerns about the direction of Israeli domestic politics under the current government.
The podcast episode, titled “Jake Sullivan: Trump Is Making China Great Again,” also covered topics such as US foreign policy under the Trump administration and the evolving situation in Gaza.