ByGRACE GILSON/JTA

JULY 16, 2026 07:37

Updated: JULY 16, 2026 08:08

Vice President JD Vance asserted that the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein maintained links to the highest echelons of Israeli intelligence.

He clearly had connections to the upper, the highest levels, of American intelligence. He clearly had connections to the highest levels of Israeli intelligence, Vance told Joe Rogan, one of the country's most popular podcasters, in a three-hour interview released Wednesday.

Vance also directed sharp words at Israelis reportedly behind efforts to undermine his attempts to broker a ceasefire with Iran, telling them to go to hell.

The comments from Vance, who called himself one of the original Epstein conspiracy theorists, represented a notable embrace by a Trump administration official of theories about Epstein's ties to Israeli intelligence. These ideas have spread widely since his death and frequently veer into antisemitism. No evidence backs the claim, and Naftali Bennett, Israel's former prime minister, last year publicly denied allegations that Epstein worked for Israel or its intelligence agency.

During the interview, Vance went on to speculate about Epstein's connections to Israel, especially his links to the Israeli political left. Epstein had an association with Ehud Barak, the former Israeli prime minister. Barak, whose politics in recent years have shifted toward the center, has denied wrongdoing and expressed regret over the relationship.

Vance claimed Epstein had connections to Israeli deep state

As much as I know, you know, Prime Minister Netanyahu, not a particularly popular person in the United States of America right now, Epstein seemed to be connected to the elements of the Israeli deep state that were left of center, Vance said. It was not clear what Vance meant by deep state, a term often used by right-wingers promoting conspiracy theories.

Vance continued that, in the United States, Epstein was connected across the board, he had Republican friends, he had Democratic friends. He had much deeper connections to the Israeli left of center than right of center. I do not know what that means.

The interview with Rogan was not the first time that Vance had engaged with conspiracy theories about Epstein.

I am frankly kind of a conspiracy theory on the Epstein stuff, Vance told the hosts on The View last month. I think that it is crazy that you have this guy who is clearly a sex predator who is hanging out with a lot of wealthy and powerful people.

Jewish billionaire philanthropist Lex Wexner's association with Epstein

During the interview with Rogan, Vance also mentioned a separate conspiracy that has not received as much attention, saying that Epstein was the tax guy of Les Wexner, the Jewish billionaire philanthropist whose decades-long relationship with Epstein has affected his philanthropic legacy.

I think there is an underreported, underexplored story of, was Epstein doing a lot of tax stuff that was not on the up and up, and is that one way in which he gained blackmail, Vance said. It is not opposite of the sexual blackmail story, but in some ways you could imagine both things being true.

Epstein's relationship with Wexner has been extensively reported. Wexner, too, has denied wrongdoing and said he cut off relations with Epstein after learning about his misconduct.

There is so much nonsense out there, Vance said, referring to a recent report that Israelis are behind a paid campaign to discredit the Iran deal he brokered last month.

Vance said he did not care if Israel or any other country tried to influence outcomes, it is the nature of the beast, he said, but was irked by Americans he claimed were taking Israeli money to oppose the deal.

Many of the people who were receiving that money were actually attacking me in completely dishonest ways, you know my response to that is Go to hell! I am going to do what I have to do for the American people, he said. I represent Americans first.

Vance's deal with Iran, which has come under fire for its unprecedented concessions to the country regarding its role in controlling Lebanon and the Strait of Hormuz, is in abeyance. Trump resumed the war against Iran this week.