Washington, D.C. – Vice President JD Vance’s attempt to deflect criticism over the Trump administration’s refusal to release Jeffrey Epstein’s files by blaming Democrats during a Fox News interview has sparked intense backlash, amplifying demands for transparency across social media.
The remarks, coming four days after Vance reportedly convened a White House strategy meeting with Attorney General Pam Bondi and FBI Director Kash Patel to address the Epstein scandal, have been criticized as a failed spin effort, especially after Vance denied discussing Epstein at the meeting despite acknowledging it took place.
Vance’s accusations against Democrats, including repeated debunked claims about Bill Clinton’s visits to Epstein’s island, have fueled a new round of online outrage, set against a volatile second Trump term marked by health concerns and policy controversies.
Vance’s Deflection and Blame-Shifting on Fox News
In the Fox News interview, Vance tried to shift responsibility for the Epstein scandal to the Biden administration, accusing President Joe Biden of “doing absolutely nothing” about it during his term. “And now President Trump has demanded full transparency from this. And yet somehow the Democrats are attacking him and not the Biden administration, which did nothing for four years,” Vance said.
He highlighted Epstein’s “connections with leftwing politicians and leftwing billionaires… Democrat billionaires and Democrat political leaders went to Epstein island all the time. Who knows what they did,” repeating Trump’s previously debunked claim that Clinton visited Epstein’s private island dozens of times. Clinton has acknowledged using Epstein’s jet but denied ever visiting his island.
Vance also warned that “you’re going to see a lot of people get indicted” after Trump accused Obama of “treason” and called for his prosecution. The director of national intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard, has passed documents to the justice department that she claims show that the Obama administration maliciously tried to hurt Trump by linking Russian interference in the 2016 election to him. Obama has dismissed Trump’s call for his prosecution as weak and ridiculous.
Backlash and Renewed Demands for Release
Within minutes of the interview airing, X erupted with criticism, with clips of Vance smearing Democrats circulating widely. Conservative Never Trumper Bill Kristol responded, “Fine. Release all the files… no redactions of clients, enablers, and see-no-evil associates.”
Jon Favreau, Barack Obama’s former head speechwriter, replied, “Release the names! Democrats, Republicans, billionaires, or not. What are you afraid of, JD Vance?” Favreau added that Trump’s name “is in the Epstein files,” referencing a July 2025 Wall Street Journal report that a justice department review of the documents conducted under Bondi had found that the president’s name did appear “multiple times.”
Other social media users used the Fox News interview to re-run video of Trump hosting Epstein and Maxwell at Mar-a-Lago. The White House has been caught in a bind over the Epstein affair which spawned conspiracy theories among many of Trump’s supporters, which now senior figures in the administration had actively encouraged during the 2024 campaign.
In July, the justice department announced that there was no Epstein client list and that no more files would be made public, a decision that clashed with earlier statements from top Trump officials, including Bondi’s statement in February that a client list was “sitting on my desk right now to review.” The decision triggered an immediate and ongoing uproar that crossed the partisan political divide.
Among the most viral clips in the aftermath of that reversal was video of Vance himself telling the podcaster Theo Von, two weeks before the election: “Seriously, we need to release the Epstein list, that is an important thing.”
Fine. Release all the files. With victims and survivors’ names and PII redacted. But no redactions of clients, enablers, and see-no-evil associates. https://t.co/IEZrek9ZvM
— Bill Kristol (@BillKristol) August 10, 2025
Epstein’s Crimes and Trump’s Connections
Epstein was an American financier who was convicted in 2008 of soliciting prostitution from minors and later arrested in 2019 on federal charges of sex trafficking and conspiracy involving girls as young as 14 years old.
He was accused of running a vast human-trafficking operation, recruiting underage girls for sex with himself and associates, and targeting vulnerable victims across his residences, including in New York, Florida, New Mexico, and the Caribbean.
Epstein’s private island—most notoriously called “Epstein Island” or “Little Saint James”—lies off the southeast coast of St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Covering roughly 70–78 acres, the property featured multiple villas, swimming pools, tennis courts, a helipad, and a peculiar temple structure.
Epstein acquired it in 1998, and it became a central site in allegations of sex trafficking and abuse. Epstein died in August 2019, during Trump’s first presidency, while the financier and socialite was awaiting trial in a Manhattan jail; the death was ruled a suicide.
Trump’s name appears multiple times in the publicly known “phase one” release of Epstein-related documents—nine mentions in flight logs and Epstein’s infamous contact book.
Trump’s personal relationship with Epstein has also come under fresh scrutiny. The Wall Street Journal reported that Attorney General Pam Bondi told Trump that his name was in the files during a briefing in May.
There is no reliable evidence that Trump ever visited Epstein’s private island. Although Trump flew on Epstein’s private jet at least seven times during the 1990s between Palm Beach and New York, flight logs and investigations show no visible trips tied to the island. Trump has denied ever visiting the island in interviews.
Trump was also asked about reports that he kicked Epstein out of his Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Florida. The president said, in part, “For years I wouldn’t talk to Jeffrey Epstein. He did something that was inappropriate. He hired help, and I said don’t ever do that again. He stole people that worked for me. And he did it again, and I threw him out of the place, persona non grata, and that was it. I’m glad I did if you want to know the truth.”
On X, liberals like @TruthSeekerUSA posted, “Trump’s blaming Comey for Epstein files—another baseless conspiracy!” while MAGA users like @AmericaFirstNow countered, “Trump’s exposing Deep State lies—Epstein files are rigged!”
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What’s Next?
Trump’s Epstein remarks risk alienating even Republican voters. A 2023 Rasmussen poll found that a majority of Republicans and independents favored releasing all Epstein-related files. His pardon comments could complicate ongoing DOJ reviews under Attorney General Bondi.
As activist groups plan nationwide protests, Trump’s handling of the Epstein controversy may shape voter sentiment heading into the 2026 midterms.
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