Elon Musk has deleted posts that claimed President Donald Trump’s name is in the unreleased Jeffrey Epstein files, marking a significant retreat from his earlier sensational claims. The Tesla CEO initially suggested that Trump’s name in the files was the reason for their non-release, but later removed these statements. Musk’s actions follow a high-profile conflict with Trump over the Big Beautiful Bill and a prolonged period of perceived mutual support.
Musk’s post was part of a broader public spat with Trump, which began with the SpaceX CEO criticizing the Big Beautiful Bill for increasing the deficit by around $2.5 trillion. The feud came despite a months-long “bromance” between the pair, with Musk donating significant funds to Trump’s campaign and supporting his return to office. Trump’s return also saw Musk oversee the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) for months, highlighting a unique collaboration that now appears strained.
The White House responded to Musk’s allegations, stating that the information he shared was already known and that Trump’s connection to Epstein was not new. The administration noted that Trump had previously kicked Epstein out of his Palm Beach Golf Club and that the Epstein files had already been released, with Trump’s name included in them. A source familiar with the Epstein matter pointed out that if Musk believed Trump had deeper involvement, it would be unusual given their close relationship.
The release of Epstein documents has been a subject of public interest, with ongoing efforts to obtain the full dossier. Attorney General Pam Bondi requested the full Epstein case file before FBI Director Kash Patel was confirmed, but received only about 200 pages, far fewer than the number of pages in a related civil lawsuit. The documents released so far include flight logs, an evidence list, and other materials related to Epstein and his clients, though the client list remains unreleased. The ongoing release of documents has sparked continued interest in the case and its implications.