Trump and Vance differ in their responses to latest Epstein files
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Vice President JD Vance and President Trump at the White House last month. Photo: Al Drago/Bloomberg/Getty Images
The Justice Department last week released the final 3 million-plus Epstein files — but President Trump and Vice President JD Vance appear to diverge over what, if anything, should come next.
Why it matters: Trump suggested Tuesday it's "time for the country to get onto something else," even as Vance signaled openness to testimony on allegations in the latest files against former Prince Andrew.
- The split underscores growing tension within the GOP over whether the Epstein disclosures should be investigated further or politically put to rest.
State of play: The vice president told the London-based Daily Mail Tuesday that he would be "certainly open to" Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor testifying before Congress, noting that U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer suggested he should do so after more files were released last week. But he said it would be Congress' call.
- Mountbatten-Windsor denies any wrongdoing and has never been charged with any crime, despite long-standing allegations regarding his friendship with Jeffrey Epstein.
- Files released last week that mention Mountbatten-Windsor have prompted some officials to once again question his relationship with Epstein. British police are looking into another woman's allegations against him.
Meanwhile, Trump shrugged off the latest big names in the newest trove of files.
Zoom in: On Elon Musk and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick being mentioned in the files, Trump told reporters Tuesday: "You mentioned two names. I'm sure they're fine. Otherwise it would have been major headlines."
- Trump maintained his position that he was never "friendly" with Epstein.
- "Now that nothing came out about me, other than it was a conspiracy against me, literally, by Epstein and other people, I think it's time now for the country to maybe get onto something else," he told reporters Tuesday.
Of note: Trump expressed sympathy for former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who have agreed to testify before Congress about Epstein after the House threatened to hold them in criminal contempt.
- Bill Clinton's name was featured frequently in the files, mostly tied to correspondence and flight logs connected to Epstein's wider network. He denies any wrongdoing in the case.
- "I think it's a shame to be honest. I always liked him," Trump said of Bill Clinton.
- "Her? Yeah. She's a very capable woman who's better at debating than some of the other people, I'll tell you that. She was smarter, smart woman," Trump said of his 2016 Democratic presidential rival Hillary Clinton, whom he has previously attacked.
What they're saying: The White House referred Axios' Tuesday evening request for comment to the vice president's office.
- The vice president's team did not immediately respond to Axios' request for comment.
Go deeper: Why the Epstein scandal may never die
