WASHINGTON (Realist English). Vice President JD Vance, in a three‑hour interview on The Joe Rogan Experience podcast released on July 15, made a series of explosive statements regarding the “Epstein files” and Israel.
Vance admitted that the Trump administration “absolutely failed” in its communication around the release of documents related to convicted financier Jeffrey Epstein, linked Epstein to US and Israeli intelligence, and accused the Israeli government of attempting to sabotage US‑Iran negotiations.
“We Botched the Communication”: Admission on the “Epstein Files”
Vance stated bluntly: “If people want to say we botched the Epstein files release — guilty. We really botched it, especially on the communications side.” At the same time, he categorically rejected suggestions that the administration tried to hide anything: “But do I think we botched the communication because we were trying to hide something? No.”
Vance blamed former Attorney General Pam Bondi for the failed communication. In February 2025, Bondi said on Fox News that the alleged Epstein “client list” was “sitting on my desk right now.” According to Vance, that statement created inflated public expectations: “I know Pam, I love Pam. I don’t think she had any malicious intent. I think she was trying to respond to a political moment. She overestimated what we had and what we didn’t have.”
In addition, the Justice Department under Bondi distributed folders marked “Epstein Files: Phase 1” and “Declassified” to conservative bloggers and influencers. However, Vance admitted that these materials “largely contained already released documents.” “I don’t know what the purpose of that was, but I know what the effect was — to make people distrust the entire effort.”
Vance also called the 2007–2008 deal struck by then‑prosecutor Alex Acosta the “original sin” of the Epstein investigation, adding that “if there was a broader conspiracy, the evidence was in 2007.”
“Mossad or CIA”: Conspiracy Theories About Epstein’s Ties
During the interview, host Joe Rogan asked Vance about theories that Epstein may have been connected to Israel’s Mossad. Vance replied: “Yeah, Mossad or CIA, or some other deep state.” He added: “He clearly had ties to the upper echelons of American intelligence. He clearly had ties to the upper echelons of Israeli intelligence.”
At the same time, Vance admitted he had no documentary evidence for these claims: “There are no documents directly linking Epstein to US intelligence agencies or a foreign agency.” He also noted: “If such a document existed, it wouldn’t exist in 2026.”
Vance clarified that, in his view, Epstein was linked not to right‑wing but to centre‑left circles of the Israeli “deep state”: “As far as I know, Prime Minister Netanyahu is not the most popular person in the United States. Epstein seemed to be connected to elements of the Israeli deep state that were left of centre.” In the US, according to Vance, Epstein was “connected to everyone — he had Republican friends and Democratic friends.”
Notably, Vance called himself “one of the original Epstein conspiracy theorists” and confessed that he had “gone down every rabbit hole.”
Accusations Against Israel: “Go to Hell”
Vance also accused the Israeli government of trying to derail US‑Iran negotiations. He said that he knew “without a doubt” of “people in the Israeli government who are trying to distract us from the negotiations because they want the military campaign to continue.”
According to the vice president, Israel is running “a very stealthy, extremely well‑funded” campaign to influence US public opinion, aiming to “prolong the war indefinitely.” “Again, not to achieve some goal, but just indefinitely,” Vance stressed.
Vance cited a Time magazine article reporting that Brad Parscale — digital strategist for Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign — is leading a social media campaign on behalf of the Israeli government.
Upon learning of this, Vance said: “When I open the pages of Time and see that literally a foreign influence campaign is being funded to kill a deal I was working on, and many of those who received that money attacked me in completely dishonest ways… my response to that is — go to hell.”
At the same time, Vance stressed that Israeli pressure did not influence President Trump’s decision to go to war with Iran: “I think the president, completely independent of any Israeli influence, firmly believes — and I agree — that Iran must not have nuclear weapons.”
Reaction and Context
Vance’s remarks drew widespread attention. As The Jerusalem Post notes, his words constituted “a notable endorsement by a Trump administration official of theories about Epstein’s ties to Israeli intelligence that have circulated in the years since his death and have often veered into antisemitism.”
Former Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett has previously publicly denied claims that Epstein worked for Israel or its intelligence agency. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has also addressed the topic on social media. Vance himself acknowledged having “good relationships” with some members of the Israeli government.
According to Al‑Monit-or, since taking office, Vance has positioned himself as a critic of Israel within the Trump administration. In June, he already stated: “If I were in the Israeli cabinet, I probably wouldn’t attack the only strong ally I have left in the world.”
Vance’s admission about the botched Epstein files communication is unlikely to end speculation around the case. As the vice president himself noted, “we should have just put everything out at the very beginning. We should have done it as quickly as possible.”
As for the accusations against Israel, they could strain relations between the Trump administration and the Israeli government, especially amid the ongoing war in Iran. Vance appears to be using criticism of Israel to strengthen his position among voters with shifting views on the Middle East, with an eye on the 2028 presidential election.
