On June 6, 2025, amid a heated public feud with President Donald Trump, Elon Musk posted on X, alleging without evidence that Trump was named in unreleased Jeffrey Epstein files, claiming this was why they remained sealed. The post, which Musk called a “really big bomb,” sparked widespread controversy, escalating tensions between the two former allies. The feud, initially over Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill,” turned personal, with Trump threatening to cancel Musk’s government contracts and Musk briefly threatening to decommission SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft.
By June 7, Musk’s original post accusing Trump was deleted, along with another endorsing Trump’s impeachment. In a now-deleted reply to a user on X, Musk stated he would “apologize profusely as soon as there is a full dump of the Epstein files,” suggesting his willingness to retract his claim if the files were fully released. This statement, reported by outlets like Mediaite and ZeroHedge, was interpreted by some as Musk backtracking under pressure, while others on X speculated it was a strategic move to push for the files’ release.
The Epstein files, comprising investigative documents from the financier’s sex-trafficking case, have been partially released, with “Phase 1” disclosed in February 2025 by Attorney General Pam Bondi. These included flight logs showing Trump as a passenger on Epstein’s jet seven times in the 1990s, though no evidence links him to Epstein’s crimes. Trump has denied wrongdoing, and his former lawyer, David Schoen, posted on X that Epstein had no damaging information on Trump. The White House dismissed Musk’s allegations as “unfortunate,” focusing on Trump’s legislative priorities.
Musk’s apology offer has fueled debate. Posts on X reflect divided sentiment: some users, like @twisted_eagle, noted Musk’s conditional apology, while others, like @pinkykisses, accused him of lying. House Democrats, including Representatives Dan Goldman and Stephen Lynch, seized on the claim, demanding Bondi and FBI Director Kash Patel clarify the delay in releasing remaining files. Bondi cited ongoing FBI review of extensive documents, with no set timeline for further releases.
Musk’s own past ties to Epstein, including a 2014 photo with Ghislaine Maxwell and a 2023 subpoena by the U.S. Virgin Islands in an Epstein-related lawsuit, have resurfaced, though Musk has denied any advisory relationship with Epstein, calling him a “dumb crook.” As of June 8, 2025, Musk has not issued a public apology, and the deleted posts suggest an attempt to de-escalate. The controversy underscores ongoing public fascination with the Epstein case and its intersections with high-profile figures, with Musk’s actions amplifying calls for transparency while raising questions about his motives.
