United States Vice President JD Vance stated on Wednesday, July 16th, 2026, that the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein had connections to the highest levels of Israeli intelligence. In a lengthy interview with podcaster Joe Rogan, Vance was asked about theories linking Epstein to Israel’s Mossad spy agency. He responded that Epstein “clearly had connections to the highest levels of Israeli intelligence,” but added that Epstein was not deeply connected to the right-of-center Israeli political sphere.

Vance also acknowledged that the Trump administration mishandled communications regarding the Epstein files. Under former Justice Department official Under Bondi, who was fired by Trump in April, binders titled “The Epstein files: Phase 1” and “Declassified” were distributed to conservative commentators and influencers.

These remarks come amid broader discussions about US-Israeli relations and internal divisions within the Trump-aligned political team concerning Iran and Lebanon. Vance’s statements signal a potential new phase in the diplomatic dynamics between the US and Israel, as his 2028 political strategy begins to take shape.

Sources