In a dramatic escalation of their public feud, Elon Musk has claimed that former President Donald Trump is named in the notorious Jeffrey Epstein files, suggesting this is the real reason the documents have not been fully released. Musk made the bombshell assertion on June 5, 2025, via his social media platform X (formerly Twitter), posting, "@realDonaldTrump is in the Epstein files. That is the real reason they have not been made public. Have a nice day, DJT!" He followed up with, "Mark this post for the future. The truth will come out."
Jeffrey Epstein, a convicted sex offender and financier, died by suicide in a New York jail in August 2019 while awaiting trial on federal charges of sex trafficking minors. The files related to his case have been a subject of intense public interest and speculation, especially regarding which high-profile figures might be implicated. However, the mere presence of names in such files does not necessarily imply wrongdoing, as criminal case documents often include names of victims, witnesses, and others connected to the investigation.
Musk's explosive claim arrived amid a bitter public spat with Trump, who responded on his social media platform Truth Social by accusing Musk of going "crazy" and revealing that he had asked Musk to leave his administration. Trump wrote, "Elon was ‘wearing thin,’ I asked him to leave, I took away his EV Mandate that forced everyone to buy Electric Cars that nobody else wanted (that he knew for months I was going to do!), and he just went CRAZY!" He also suggested that ending Musk's government contracts would save billions in the federal budget.
The spat has had immediate financial repercussions for Musk's companies. Tesla shares plummeted, losing about $150 billion (£111 billion) in market value in a single day, closing down 14.3%. The decline followed Trump's public threats to cancel government contracts with Musk's ventures, including SpaceX.
In response to Trump's threats, Musk warned that terminating his companies' government contracts would have severe consequences. He stated on X that such actions "would both end the International Space Station and simultaneously provide no way to safely deorbit it." SpaceX's Dragon spacecraft, which Musk said his firm would begin decommissioning immediately, is currently the only U.S. vehicle capable of ferrying crew to and from the International Space Station.
The feud's roots trace back to Musk's recent departure from his role as a special advisor heading the U.S. Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), a controversial agency he led briefly before leaving amid disagreements. DOGE was tasked with reducing government size and cutting federal jobs, but critics argued Musk's involvement was driven by securing contracts for his businesses.
Following his exit, Musk launched a series of public attacks on Trump's signature tax and spending legislation, which Trump dubbed the "One Big Beautiful Bill." Musk called it a "disgusting abomination" and a "big, ugly bill," criticizing its provisions and the speed with which it was passed. Trump expressed disappointment in Musk's stance, accusing him of "Trump derangement syndrome" and suggesting Musk missed the structure of government.
The personal history between Musk and Trump adds layers to this unfolding drama. Musk was once a close ally of Trump, reportedly spending over $290 million supporting his 2020 presidential campaign. However, their relationship deteriorated sharply in recent months, culminating in this very public clash.
Regarding Epstein, Trump has a documented history with the financier. In a 2002 interview with New York magazine, Trump described Epstein as a "terrific guy" and a lot of fun to be with, adding, "It is even said that he likes beautiful women as much as I do, and many of them are on the younger side." However, after Epstein's 2019 arrest, Trump distanced himself, saying, "I knew him like everybody in Palm Beach knew him," and, "I don’t think I have spoken with him for 15 years. I was not a fan."
Trump was named in court filings in a 2023 lawsuit brought by the late Virginia Giuffre against Ghislaine Maxwell, though no allegations of wrongdoing were made against him. Other mentions in the Epstein files reportedly indicate a cordial relationship between Trump and Epstein but do not suggest criminal involvement.
Attorney General Pam Bondi released the "first phase" of the Epstein files in February 2025, but the documents largely contained information already in the public domain. Since then, federal law enforcement has been preparing additional files for release, but concerns remain about protecting innocent individuals whose reputations could be harmed by premature or incomplete disclosure. The timeline for further releases remains uncertain.
As the public and political pressure mounts, the Epstein files continue to be a focal point for conspiracy theories and partisan battles. Musk's allegations add fuel to the fire, though he has provided no evidence supporting his claim about Trump's inclusion in the files. The White House has described Musk's comments as "unfortunate," framing them as part of Musk's dissatisfaction with recent legislation rather than grounded in fact.
Meanwhile, the broader political and business fallout from the Musk-Trump feud continues to unfold. Tesla's sales have suffered, with reports indicating a 45% drop in the UK in May 2025, mirroring declines in other European markets. Musk's SpaceX faces uncertainty over government contracts critical to its operations, and the rift between the billionaire entrepreneur and the former president shows no sign of abating.
As this high-profile conflict plays out, questions linger about the veracity of Musk's claims and the motivations behind the ongoing public attacks. For now, the Epstein files remain partially sealed, the truth obscured amid a storm of accusations and counteraccusations.
