JD Vance Calls Protester Demanding Epstein Documents an Illegal Immigrant

Vice President JD Vance was addressing a crowd in North Carolina when a man in the audience shouted for the release of the Epstein files, a demand that has been echoed by President Trump. Security removed the protester while Vance continued, later quipping that he had said the United States had seen no illegal border crossings, suggesting the interrupter was an “illegal immigrant.” The comment sparked backlash from figures who argued that concern for Epstein victims is not limited to non-citizens.

Critics also highlighted the Trump administration’s unfulfilled pledge to make the files public and the exclusion of survivors from recent Republican gatherings. Governor Gavin Newsom’s office and journalist Benjamín Torres Gotay publicly condemned Vance’s remarks. Attorney General Todd Blanche has been noted for avoiding meetings with survivors, adding to the controversy surrounding the issue.