‘The View’ Hosts Grill JD Vance on Trump, Epstein and More
JD Vance, vice president of Donald Trump‘s second presidential term, appeared on Tuesday’s (June 16) live episode of The View, and all six cohosts were on hand to grill the VP about a range of current events.
Among the major topics discussed were Trump’s statements on the affordability crisis, the Iran War, and the Jeffrey Epstein files. The latter topic in particular earned a great deal of crosstalk and pushback from the hosts.
When asked about reporting that he was pushing for the release of the files in the Situation Room, with Sunny Hostin praising him for doing so, Vance said, “I’d say first of all, don’t believe everything that you read in any newspaper, whether it’s a right-wing paper or a left-wing paper, because, as you guys know, well, there are things that are true, things that are false, and things that are totally missing context. Well, here’s what I’ll say. So, number one, I am frankly kind of a conspiracy theory on the Epstein stuff… I love Suzie [Wiles, chief of staff], but absolutely, she thinks I’m a conspiracy theorist on the Epstein stuff, because I think that it’s crazy that you had this guy, a sex predator, who was hanging out with a lot of very wealthy and powerful people, that really bothered me. I don’t know what’s there, of course, nobody knows exactly what happened unless you were there, but that really bothered me, and I wanted to have full transparency. What I disagree with is the idea that the White House wasn’t committed to full transparency. We have to remember, I was inside the room when some of these decisions were made. The Epstein Files Transparency Act, the one that the president signed, the one that led to all these files that we’re seeing.”
He also argued that the emails released in the files proved Epstein “hated” Trump and Trump turned him over to authorities.
Ana Navarro then argued that the only reason Trump signed that bill into effect was that he was unable to pressure key Republican representatives, including Lauren Boebert and Marjorie Taylor Greene, into dropping their support for it. She also contended that the real reason for the Epstein-Trump fall-out after a decade of friendship was a real estate dispute.
“The idea that Donald Trump runs around afraid of Republican congressmen, as opposed to the other way around, is kind of crazy, because the Republicans control the House and the Senate, particularly the Senate, you need the Republican sign-off,” Vance said. “What the president did is look, I will say this again. I was in there in the meetings, he was very frustrated that the Democrats were making this about him. When he’s like, ‘Look, I threw the guy out of my club, I am the guy who reported to the police, or one of the people who reported police.’ The president was frustrated about that, absolutely. But eventually, ‘You know what? Let’s just get everything out there. Let’s have this out in the public.’ And he actually called the senators. I was there. He called the senators and said, ‘You know what? Pass this bill, I’ll sign it.'”
Hostin then challenged him to explain why no one mentioned in the files has been arrested and why a reported 2.5 million files have yet to be released.
“So, we have released, I think it’s 6 million files or 6 million pages of documents. My understanding is that 2.5 million, Sunny, I’m going to check on this to make sure, but my understanding is that a lot of those are duplicates of things that have already been released. We’re not holding, we’re not holding anything back. Some of those things are like the courts have to order you to release it. So, that was one thing that we confronted. Talk about the situation for meetings, is there’s a big bunch of files that exist, I think, in the Southern District of New York, or maybe it was some other jurisdiction, but we were like, we want to release these files, but you need the court approval in order to release the files. Sometimes we would apply to release the files, and the courts would say no. So, those particular documents, I would need to actually know exactly what you’re talking about,” Vance responded.
“We’re not holding anything back.” Vice President JD Vance breaks down why approximately 2.5 million additional pages of the Jeffrey Epstein documents have not been released to the public. pic.twitter.com/50nZX1tQ2T
— The View (@TheView) June 16, 2026
Vance was also challenged about his change of attitude about Trump, whom he was critical of ahead of his first term, and Vance explained, “Well, first of all, it’s been well covered that I was a critic of Donald Trump back in 2015, 2016. Now, obviously, I’m sitting here as the vice president of the United States in the Trump administration… For example, I said that Donald Trump’s economic policies would not lead to wage growth. They did in the first term, that was actually a major, major thing. I said that we couldn’t bring back any of those factory jobs, because I’d kind of given into this idea that those jobs were disappearing, but actually, Donald Trump, you saw our manufacturing boom during that administration. There’s a certain point where you say, ‘You know, I make predictions about this, I end up being wrong,’ and in politics, and anything, I think it’s important to say, ‘You know what? I got some things wrong, and I was wrong about him.’ He was a very successful presence, one of the reasons why I’ve been so supportive.”
Sara Haines also asked how, with his faith that is so championed in his new memoir, he can support some of the things Trump says. And in response, Vance said, “I would say fundamentally that one of the things I underappreciated about Donald Trump is that so many of the things that people said about him weren’t actually true.”
Vice President JD Vance on the state of the economy under the Trump administration: “There’s a lot more work to do. I think that we’re making progress, but ultimately, we’re going to make our pitch to the voters in November, and they’re the ones that get to decide.” pic.twitter.com/ot8wswAzOb
— The View (@TheView) June 16, 2026
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This thing of constantly telling black people that the world is against them. In particular this country. That people with a different skin color than theirs are out to get them. That they continue in the modern world to be victims. This is So wrong to use a media platform to spew this !! All it does is create bitterness, hate, and fear. In particular among young black men. They are told over and over about things that in the distant past were true and prevalent. But this is 2026 and those things are no longer true or prevalent. Are they Absolutely eradicated ? No. There are still small hot spots. But as long as this wrong thinking ideology is pounded into their heads mainly by grifters seeking with $$, fame or both we will not be Able to fully eradicate the race issues in this country. What’s really sad is in the majority of cases the people promoting this negative ideology are not really concerned with a better life for black people Even if it’s a black person doing the promoting. No they are promoting themselves so that They can have a wealthier or more prestigious life. Look how the leaders of BLM scammed that organization out of $Millions !
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I thought the VP did very well sitting in the middle of the piranhas. Of course Whoopi and Sunny couldn’t resist dropping the race card. Whoopi talking about black history being taken down. And the history of slavery being erased. Funny I’ve not heard a peep about the Slavery Museum in D.C. being taken down. No one is trying to remove things about black folk as she referred to black people. This is 2026 I wonder how much longer it’ll be before we’re just Americans not based on skin color ? They tried hard to entrap the VP but I think he did pretty well among people intent on embarrassing him and even more so POTUS. Griffin who Trump gave a good job then very shortly later promoted her to even better. The supposed “conservative voice” in the room sat there in silence. But she did chuckle and give the VP a little shirt for the Vance’s baby. How nice !🙄
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Now we see the SPLC under investigation. And under the scrutiny of Congress their leadership gave very poor and vague answers. When they would answer at all. There might have been more but when I quit watching they had pleaded the Fifth a whopping 22 times !! This organization takes in $ Millions in donations ! So is the leadership really trying to help create a better life for black people or are certain persons behind the scenes getting very wealthy ? And once again the organizations primary foundation is the victim narrative. I would love to see Americans be just Americans with no prefix before I die. But I doubt I will. To many greedy people who see this as an opportunity to enrich themselves. Get themselves a private plane like “honorable” Rev. Sharpton. I can’t recall one single time that he has spoke of the Gospel Of Jesus Christ that is available to ALL people irrespective of race, income level, creed, or code. If he’s a true Reverend his primary responsibility in the eyes of Holy God is spreading the Gospel. Not race baiting. When fully embraced The Gospel brings peace among people regardless of Who or What you are. When fully embraced.
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I also find it rich that Haines talked about her Christianity. When just last Friday her and the zoo crew were in full blown attack mode concerning young men turning to God and Faith. These “ ladies” made some of the most bizarre and perverse speculations I’ve ever heard. In the end they seemed to paint the narrative that young men are abandoning young women by embracing Faith In God ! For some odd reason this site has not provided an article with that show’s transcript as they have done on every other The View episode. Strange.
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Whoopi rightly pointed out how difficult in times like these it is to raise children if one doesn't have the responsibility to raise them the right way whether financially or other means they could raise them right. She points out how women needs choices for their well-being and not always wanting to kowtow to a man as if he's giving orders and she has to follow them, no matter what. I personally found nothing wrong with their discussion that I just watched on YouTube. The whole show is on there with a list of when that seqment begins.
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Yes there are allot of irresponsible men out there unfortunately. But what does that have to do with young men coming to God and Faith ? Which is in my view a very positive thing. And will probably lead to Less irresponsible men. I’ve read the entire transcript on another site. I don’t need a possibly doctored YouTube view. They were attacking young men for daring to seek after God. Also there’s an old adage I’ve found to be very true. It takes two to tango. Trying to put All blame on men is merely a denial of the full problem.
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That transcript could have been doctored as well, Just sayin'...
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Doubtful that the NY Post would do that and possibly face a lawsuit. Where as you and I or anyone can make a YouTube clip. Just sayin…..
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I watched a replay of this cause I NEVER watch the view. Vance held his own and the view hosts stammered a lot. Where are their facts to back up what they spew forth?
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I think all on both sides were decent enough & tried to discuss without ugliness. Online should Stop with all their efforts with Attention Getting Headlines & statements with goal of enraging people. And it does NOT take much todo that these days with some people.
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