Vance Faces Backlash Over Epstein-Israel Conspiracy Remarks
Vice President JD Vance has drawn bipartisan criticism after suggesting on a popular podcast that the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein had ties to the “highest levels” of Israeli intelligence and the “Israeli deep state.” The remarks, made during a nearly three-hour appearance on The Joe Rogan Experience podcast on July 15-16, have reignited debate over the Trump administration’s relationship with conspiracy-adjacent narratives and exposed deepening tensions between the White House and Israel.
The Remarks
When host Joe Rogan stated that “most people think he [Epstein] was Mossad,” Vance responded: “Yeah, Mossad or CIA or some other deep state, whether in America or Israel or another country. He clearly had connections to the upper levels of American intelligence. He clearly had connections to the highest levels of Israeli intelligence.”
Vance elaborated that Epstein “seemed to be connected to the elements of the Israeli deep state that were left of center,” according to the Jerusalem Post. He acknowledged, however, that no documents directly link Epstein to US or Israeli intelligence agencies, stating: “if that [such a document] existed, it wouldn’t exist in 2026.”
The vice president also described himself as “one of the O.G. Epstein conspiracy theorists,” a label consistent with earlier comments made on “The View” the previous month.
Epstein Files Mishandling
Vance admitted the Trump administration “absolutely screwed up the comms of the Epstein files” under former Attorney General Pam Bondi, who was fired in April 2026. He defended Bondi’s intentions, saying he did not believe there was “anything malicious going on.” Bondi had famously claimed an alleged Epstein “client list” was “sitting on my desk right now” — something that turned out to be untrue.
Political Fallout
The New York Times reported that Vance’s comments “troubled some in his party” and drew criticism from across the political spectrum. Michael Goodwin of the New York Post wrote that Vance’s statements “should disqualify him from 2028 GOP ticket,” calling them “baffling.”
Conservative commentator Ben Shapiro reportedly “flipped out” over Vance’s Israel comments, while radio host Sid Rosenberg accused Vance of taking “marching orders” from Tucker Carlson and said his rhetoric about Israeli influence “crosses into antisemitism.”
Context: US-Israel Tensions Over Iran
Vance’s Epstein remarks occurred against a backdrop of significant tension between the Trump administration and Israel over Iran policy. Vance had brokered a ceasefire deal with Iran that critics said included unprecedented concessions. During the Rogan interview, he accused elements “within Israel’s system” of trying to manipulate American public opinion to prolong the war with Iran “indefinitely.”
He told Israeli critics of his Iran deal to “go to hell,” saying “I represent Americans first,” as reported by Arab News. Trump subsequently resumed the war against Iran in late July 2026.
Evidence and Denials
The US Department of Justice released 3.5 million files related to Epstein in January 2026 under the “Epstein Files Transparency Act.” None of the files explicitly reveal Epstein was an intelligence asset. However, an FBI memo from 2020 stated that one of its sources believed Epstein “was a co-opted Mossad agent” who had been “trained as a spy.” The files also showed Epstein had extensive email correspondence with senior Israeli politicians, including former Defense Minister Ehud Barak, and Mossad veteran Yoni Koren.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has publicly denied that Epstein worked for Israel, posting in February 2026 that “Jeffrey Epstein’s unusually close relationship with Ehud Barak doesn’t suggest Epstein worked for Israel. It proves the opposite.” Former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett has also denied the allegations.
Implications
The episode raises significant questions about the mainstreaming of conspiracy theories within the highest levels of the US government. Critics have noted that theories about Epstein and Israeli intelligence often veer into antisemitic tropes about Jewish control and dual loyalty. The political fallout could complicate Vance’s standing within the Republican party and any potential 2028 presidential bid, while the broader US-Israel relationship faces renewed strain over both the Epstein allegations and fundamental disagreements over Iran policy.
What to Watch For
The White House has yet to issue an official statement on Vance’s remarks, leaving questions about whether the administration will distance itself from or endorse his claims. The Epstein files release continues to yield new information, and further developments in US-Israel relations — already strained by the resumption of hostilities with Iran — will shape the political consequences for the vice president.