Vice President JD Vance has alleged that he is being targeted by an Israeli-funded influence effort over his push for peace with Iran, while also claiming Jeffrey Epstein had connections reaching the “highest levels” of Mossad. Vance made the striking assertions during an almost three-hour interview with podcast host Joe Rogan, citing a Time magazine report that he said showed American influencers were being paid to criticize the Iran initiative. According to the report, funding has moved through a former Trump campaign operative and is backed by elements of the Israeli government.
Vance suspects evidence was destroyed
“My response to that is, well, go to hell,” Vance said, referring to people he accused of accepting money to attack him. The vice president said he has been unfairly labeled an antisemite and argued that Israel is losing the battle for public opinion in the United States. He further alleged that “figures” within Israel’s government are attempting to shape American sentiment in order to prolong the war “indefinitely.” The conversation later turned to the administration’s handling of the Epstein controversy, with Vance saying the disgraced financier “clearly had connections to the highest levels of American intelligence” as well as “Israeli intelligence.” When Rogan remarked that many people believe Epstein was working for Mossad, Vance did not reject the suggestion.
Vance speculated Epstein had intelligence ties
![Vance noted that it was Mossad 'or CIA or some other deep state, whether in America or Israel or another country or both.' Vance, who described himself as a [conspiracist] on Epstein, said that anything tying the [child predator] to spy agencies was likely destroyed after 2006 - when the financier was first arrested. 'What I have seen...is that there just wasn't dispositive evidence. And if that dispositive evidence ever existed, it was probably destroyed after 2006, 2007,' Vance told Rogan. On Epstein, the vice president agreed with Rogan that the financier was running an operation to pressure or compromise powerful people. 'I will go to my deathbed believing there's a story there,' Vance said, though he admitted he cannot prove it.](https://i.dailymail.com/1s/2026/07/16/10/110043411-0-image-a-39_1784193916865.jpg)
Vance said the possible links could involve Mossad, the CIA, “some other deep state,” or intelligence networks in America, Israel, another country, or a combination of them. Describing himself as inclined toward conspiracy theories on Epstein, Vance said any hard evidence connecting the convicted sex offender to intelligence agencies was likely destroyed after 2006, the year Epstein was first arrested. “What I have seen… is that there just wasn’t dispositive evidence. And if that dispositive evidence ever existed, it was probably destroyed after 2006, 2007,” Vance told Rogan. He also agreed with Rogan’s view that Epstein appeared to be running an operation designed to pressure or compromise influential figures. “I will go to my deathbed believing there’s a story there,” Vance said, while acknowledging he could not prove it.
Vance admits mistakes in Epstein file handling
“And I promise you there’s not some document, at least that I’m hiding, that allows us to prove exactly what was going on and how,” Vance added. Still, he admitted the administration “absolutely screwed up” its handling of the Epstein files. He placed much of the blame for the chaotic rollout on Attorney General Pam Bondi, saying she “overstated what we had” when she claimed Epstein’s client list was on her desk. Vance said officials should have released the material far earlier, while allowing time to review records, locate relevant files and redact information involving victims. “We should have just done it as quickly as possible,” he told Rogan.
Epstein’s ties span politics and power
Vance also offered a theory about how Epstein may have gained influence over wealthy men, suggesting he did so by developing questionable tax arrangements for figures such as Les Wexner, his original patron. Wexner, the Victoria’s Secret billionaire who was once Ohio’s richest man, became Epstein’s first major client and granted him broad authority over his personal fortune. Wexner has repeatedly denied knowing about or participating in Epstein’s crimes. Vance said he found it notable that Epstein appeared connected to what he described as the left-of-center wing of Israel’s “deep state,” rather than its right wing, adding, “I don’t know what that means.” In the United States, Vance noted, Epstein built relationships across the political spectrum, cultivating ties with both Republicans and Democrats.
