Vice President JD Vance suggested that Tucker Carlson interview Ghislaine Maxwell to clear the name of President Donald Trump. This revelation comes from a new book published by reporters Maggie Haberman and Jonathan Swan. The excerpt was published in The New York Times last Wednesday.
The vice president’s suggestion occurred during a Situation Room meeting on July 17, 2025. Administration officials faced mounting pressure to release files related to Jeffrey Epstein. According to CNN, this meeting included key U.S. government officials.
Vance told those present: “This is a huge problem.” The meeting included then Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, and Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt. Attorney General Pam Bondi and FBI Director Kash Patel were on the phone line.
What Did the Book Reveal About the Situation Room Meeting?
Vance suggested that the White House reach out to conservative commentator Carlson to conduct a prison interview. He believed it would help Trump in response to calls for transparency within his political base. The idea was that Maxwell would be “willing to testify” that Trump did not participate in Epstein irregularities.
Vance was also in favor of voluntarily releasing all files related to Epstein as soon as possible. He argued that the administration should get ahead of Congress, which could force the release. This is exactly what ultimately happened months after the meeting.
Todd Blanche presented the administration’s options at the meeting. He offered to personally interview the Epstein associate according to the book. One week after the meeting, Blanche interviewed Maxwell at a federal prison.
The interview transcripts were released the following summer. Maxwell said she never saw anything unusual in Trump’s friendship with Epstein. She also claimed she never heard allegations about inappropriate behavior by Trump toward minors.
Maxwell received limited immunity during the interview to discuss her criminal case. The Department of Justice did not promise other benefits for her testimony according to the transcript. This immunity allowed Maxwell to speak without fear of greater legal repercussions.
What Happened with the Maxwell and Blanche Interview?
One week after the interview with Blanche, Maxwell was moved from prison. She was transferred from a federal prison in Florida to a minimum security camp in Texas. This move occurred after Maxwell stated that Trump did not participate in irregularities.
