Musk Accused Trump of Being in Epstein Files in June—And Has Been Mocking Him Since

Elon Musk’s Latest Criticism of Trump Over Epstein Files

Elon Musk, once considered a close ally of former President Donald Trump, has recently intensified his criticism of the president over the handling of the Epstein files. The tech mogul has been vocal about his belief that the documents have not been made public because they contain information implicating Trump. This accusation comes more than a month after Musk first suggested that the “real reason” the files remain sealed is due to Trump's involvement.

Musk’s interest in the matter was sparked by the Trump administration’s attempts to unseal grand jury testimony from Jeffrey Epstein’s indictment. Critics argue that these documents may not reveal any groundbreaking information, especially considering the legal hurdles that must be cleared before their release. Despite this, Musk has continued to push for transparency, questioning why the files are being kept hidden.

Musk’s Public Outcry and Social Media Activity

On Tuesday, Musk reacted to news that House Speaker Mike Johnson had shut down a voting session before Democrats could force another vote on the release of the Epstein files. He claimed there was “only one reason” to avoid the vote, which many interpreted as an implication that Trump was involved in the files. Musk has been active on social media, particularly on X, where he has posted multiple times about the Epstein files. He even asked his AI chatbot, Grok, questions about Epstein and potential co-conspirators.

In a post on July 16, Musk called the Trump administration’s actions a “cover up (obviously),” stating that “many powerful people want that list suppressed.” He also used a meme to highlight inconsistencies in the administration’s claims about the existence of an “Epstein list,” pointing out that while the Justice Department denied having such a list, Attorney General Pam Bondi had previously told Fox News she had one “on her desk.”

The Feud Between Musk and Trump

Musk’s criticisms of Trump come amid reports linking the former president to Epstein. A recent report from The Wall Street Journal alleged that the Department of Justice informed Trump in May that he was named in the Epstein files. However, the briefing reportedly focused on unverified hearsay rather than explicit wrongdoing. Despite this, Musk has continued to accuse the administration of withholding the truth.

The tension between Musk and Trump escalated earlier this year when Musk criticized a spending bill as a “disgusting abomination.” In response, Trump threatened to cut government subsidies and contracts for Musk’s companies. Shortly after, Musk accused the government of hiding the full Epstein files because Trump was implicated. He later deleted the tweet but maintained a more conciliatory tone for a few weeks. The feud reignited in July, with both sides continuing to exchange barbs.

Other Figures Implicated in the Epstein Files

Musk has also targeted other figures linked to the Epstein case, including Steve Bannon, a former Trump strategist and convicted felon. Bannon has accused Musk of attempting to destroy him, prompting Musk to suggest that Bannon should return to prison. Bannon, in turn, has called for Musk to be deported.

Key Background on the Epstein Files

Trump, who was friends with Epstein before his first arrest, had previously promised to declassify the files in an interview with Fox News. However, by this month, he was telling supporters to “not waste time and energy on Jeffrey Epstein, somebody that nobody cares about.” Trump has also defended Pam Bondi, who faced backlash for claiming she had the Epstein client list on her desk. Meanwhile, the DOJ announced that no further information would be released, leading to increased scrutiny of Bondi’s actions.

Ongoing Efforts for Transparency

Democrats have attempted to force a vote in the House on the release of the Epstein files. However, Speaker Johnson blocked the vote and has indicated he will prevent further votes next week. Despite this, Rep. Thomas Massie and Rep. Ro Khanna have pushed a bipartisan discharge petition that could force a floor vote when the House returns from recess. The debate over the Epstein files continues, with both sides vying for transparency and accountability.