Billionaire Elon Musk has erased a tweet where he claimed former President Donald Trump was listed in Jeffrey Epstein’s files, marking another chapter in the ongoing discord between the two. Other critical tweets from the South African entrepreneur about Trump, posted after his departure from Trump's administration, have also vanished from his account on X, the social platform he owns. Among these was a tweet in which Musk asserted that without his support, the Republican would not have been able to return to the White House.
On Thursday, Musk stirred political controversy by publicly stating that Trump appears in the Epstein case documents, suggesting this as the reason for their non-disclosure.
Initial Confrontation
Musk declared, “It’s time to drop the real bombshell: Donald Trump is in Epstein’s files. That’s the real reason they haven’t been released. Have a good day, DJT. The truth will come out.” This post quickly went viral, surfacing amid escalating tensions between Musk and Trump following Musk’s critique of the Republican leader's new tax plan.
Trump fired back on his social media platform, Truth Social, threatening to terminate all government contracts and subsidies that benefit Musk and his businesses. He stated, “The easiest way to save billions in our budget is to cancel Elon’s government subsidies and contracts. I’m always surprised Biden didn’t do it!”
Additionally, Trump implied that Musk unjustly profited from electric vehicle policies and should be grateful for his past political support. “Elon was ‘running out of steam,’ I asked him to leave, removed his Electric Vehicle Mandate forcing everyone to buy unwanted electric cars… and he just went CRAZY!” Trump added in another post.
Musk's Political Shift
Musk, who previously managed the controversial Government Efficiency Department (DOGE) with authority to reduce public spending and dismantle federal agencies, had actively supported Trump during the 2024 campaign. He donated over $250 million and participated in campaign events. Now, however, Musk is distancing himself from Trump with increasingly aggressive rhetoric.
“Without me, Trump would have lost. Democrats would control the House, and Republicans would have been 51-49 in the Senate,” Musk claimed in another deleted tweet.
In November of the previous year, Musk suggested, “If Donald Trump wins, Epstein’s list will be released,” referring to the list of guests to the financier’s infamous island where minors were allegedly abused.
Following this exchange of accusations, Tesla’s stock plummeted by 15% on the New York Stock Exchange this Thursday. Investors fear that the federal government may cancel crucial contracts and subsidies related to the energy transition, which would pose a significant economic hit to Musk’s empire.
The Epstein case—concerning the financier accused of child sex trafficking and found dead in his cell in 2019—remains a source of immense controversy and speculation. Although several judicial documents have been partially released, the complete list of individuals involved or mentioned is still kept secret. Musk's assertion that Trump appears in these files, if proven, could have politically devastating consequences.
Key Questions About Musk, Trump, and the Epstein Files
What did Elon Musk claim about Donald Trump and Epstein's files?
Elon Musk claimed that Donald Trump is listed in Jeffrey Epstein's files, implying this is why the documents have not been released to the public.
How did Donald Trump respond to Musk's accusations?
Donald Trump responded by threatening to cut all government contracts and subsidies benefiting Musk and his companies, and criticized Musk for supposedly benefiting from electric vehicle policies.
What impact did the Musk-Trump conflict have on Tesla?
The conflict led to a 15% drop in Tesla's stock value, driven by fears that the federal government might cancel key contracts and subsidies related to the energy transition.
Why is the Epstein case still controversial?
The Epstein case remains controversial due to the mystery surrounding the full list of individuals involved, which is still under wraps despite partial release of judicial documents.