‘Absolutely screwed up on Epstein files’: Vance tells Joe Rogan, claims Israel wants Iran war to continue ‘indefinitely’



US Vice President JD Vance announced on Sunday (local time) that he and Second Lady Usha Vance have welcomed their fourth childUS Vice President JD Vance joined by his wife Usha Vance(AFP)US Vice President JD Vance announced on Sunday (local time) that he and Second Lady Usha Vance have welcomed their fourth child. He shared the news in a post on social media.In a post on X, he wrote, "We are excited to announce that our baby boy, Alec Neel Vance, was born this morning. Usha and the baby are happy and healthy, and our kids are overjoyed to meet their little brother."In a statement signed by Vance and his wife, the couple thanked the doctors and staff at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center and the White House medical team.According to the AP, the birth marks the first time in more than 150 years that a sitting US vice president has publicly announced the arrival of a child. Alec Neel Vance joins older siblings Ewan, 9; Vivek, 6; and Mirabel, 4.This is a developing story. More details awaited.About the AuthorSwati GandhiSwati Gandhi is a digital journalist with over four years of experience, specialising in international and geopolitical issues. Her work focuses on foreign policy, global power shifts, and the political and economic forces shaping international relations, with a particular emphasis on how global developments affect India. She approaches journalism with a strong belief in context-driven reporting, aiming to break down complex global events into clear, accessible narratives for a wide readership. Previously, Swati has worked at Business Standard, where she covered a range of beats including national affairs, politics, and business. This diverse newsroom experience helped her build a strong grounding in reporting, while also strengthening her ability to work across both breaking news and in-depth explanatory stories. Covering multiple beats early in her career has helped her be informed about her current work, allowing her to connect domestic developments with wider international trends. At Live Mint, she focuses on international and geopolitical issues through a business and economic lens, examining how global political developments, foreign policy decisions, and power shifts impact markets, industries, and India’s strategic and economic interests. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in English (Honours) from the University of Delhi and a Master’s degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University. Her academic training has shaped her emphasis on precision, analytical rigour, and clarity in writing. Her interests include global political economy and the intersection of geopolitics with business. Outside work, Swati focuses on exploring her passion and love for food. From fancy cafes to street spots, Swati explores food like a true foodie. Get Latest real-time updatesStay updated with the latest Trending, India , World and US news. HomeNewsUs NewsUsha Vance gives birth to fourth child, JD Vance introduces Alec Neel Vance, 'kids overjoyed to meet little brother'More
US Vice Preisdent JD Vance has admitted that the Donald Trump administration mishandled the release of the Epstein files. Speaking on The Joe Rogan Experience, Vance said the Trump administration got the release of the FBI documents related to the probe into the influential sex offender wrong.“We absolutely screwed up the comms of the Epstein files,” Vance told Rogan during the nearly 3-hour-long podcast. “We just did. But do I think the reason we screwed up the comms is because we were trying to hide something? No.”Pam Bondi ‘overstated’The US Vice President, who said he was one of the “OG Epstein conspiracy theorists,” however, added that the idea that Trump had been blackmailed was “crazy to me.”The second Trump administration assumed office with a promise to make all the Epstein files public. The then-Attorney General Pam Bondi even claimed that an alleged “client list” of Epstein’s was “sitting on my desk right now,” something that she, the Justice Department, and the Trump administration had to walk back on.Vance admitted that the Bondi was “roasted” publicly and led people to “mistrust” the administration’s transparency efforts on the Epstein files. According to him, the former Attorney General overstated the documents the Justice Department had on Jeffrey Epstein.“I know Pam. I like Pam. I don’t think there was anything malicious going on,” Vance said. “I think Pam was trying to respond to the political moment. I think she overstated what we had and what we didn’t have.”JD Vance on US-Iran war41-year-old Vance, seen as one of the most likely contenders to succeed Trump as the Republican candidate in the 2028 presidential election, also spoke about the ongoing US war with Iran, something he initially disagreed with the President over.When asked, “If it was your call, would you have done exactly the same thing?” Vance told Rogan, “The president said publicly that JD was ‘less enthusiastic’ about it- I think was the exact phrase that he used.”Vance, however, said that he would support any decision the president made, as long as he thought the decision was “legal and ethical.” According to the US Vice President, the goal of the war was to ensure Iran does not acquire nuclear weapons.“The goal is certainly good, which is to prevent Iran from getting a nuclear weapon,” Vance said.The US and Israel launched the attacks on Iran on February 28. Despite the initial strikes decapitating the Iranian administration, the attempted regime change has not happened yet, and those inside Tehran’s power circles, including top Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) commanders, have further strengthened their hold over the country.Is US fighting Israel's war?As the war drags on, many critics have argued that the US was pulled into the conflict by Israel, despite Trump’s no new wars promise during the 2024 presidential campaign.Vance rejected the claims and said that Trump was “completely separate from any influence from Israel.”When asked if the US would have continued with the war if it wasn’t for the influence of Israel, Vance said: “Yes, I do.”Interestingly, Vance, who was the lead negotiator for the US during the Pakistan-hosted talks with Iran, acknowledged that some elements in Israel want the war to continue ‘indefinitely ’.“I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that there have been people within the Israeli government who are trying to, like, actually shift us away from [negotiations] because they want to continue the military campaign,” Vance said.“There are some people within their system, we know beyond a shadow of a doubt, who are manipulating and trying to change American public opinion to keep the war going on indefinitely,” he added. “Again, not towards any objective, but just indefinitely.”About the AuthorBobins Vayalil AbrahamBobins loves telling the human side of all stories, from the intersection of geopolitics, international relations, and conflicts around the world. In his nearly one-and-a-half-decade career as a journali
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