Elon Musk and Donald Trump have gone from political allies to bitter enemies in record time, and the latest twist in their feud is straight out of a political thriller. On Thursday, Musk dropped a bombshell on X (formerly Twitter), claiming that Trump’s name appears in the infamous Jeffrey Epstein files—and that’s why the documents haven’t been fully released.
“Time to drop the really big bomb: @realDonaldTrump is in the Epstein files,” Musk posted. “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.”
This jaw-dropping accusation came after a series of escalating jabs between the two. Musk, who previously served as Trump’s advisor on government efficiency and donated a whopping $300 million to his 2024 campaign, has been fuming over Trump’s new tax and spending bill. He called it a “disgusting abomination” and slammed the president for what he sees as betrayal.
Trump didn’t take that lightly. In a televised Oval Office rant, he said he was “very disappointed” in Musk and accused him of going “crazy” after Trump revoked electric vehicle mandates that benefited Tesla. He even threatened to terminate Musk’s federal contracts, which are worth billions.
Musk fired back, claiming Trump wouldn’t have won re-election without his support. “Without me, Trump would have lost the election, Dems would control the House and the Republicans would be 51–49 in the Senate,” he wrote. He also hinted at forming a new political party, potentially shaking up the GOP.
But it was the Epstein allegation that really set the internet ablaze. Musk even posted a 1992 video showing Trump partying with Epstein, adding fuel to the fire. While Trump has acknowledged knowing Epstein, he has denied any wrongdoing. In a 2002 interview, Trump called Epstein a “terrific guy” who “likes beautiful women as much as I do, and many of them are on the younger side.”
The White House has dismissed Musk’s claims as baseless, but House Democrats are now demanding answers. In a letter to Attorney General Pam Bondi and FBI Director Kash Patel, they asked for clarification on whether Trump’s name appears in the Epstein files and why the documents haven’t been fully released.
As the drama unfolds, the fallout is hitting both men hard. Tesla shares have plummeted 15%, wiping out over $100 billion in value, while Trump’s media company and cryptocurrency have also taken hits.
Whether Musk’s explosive claim holds water remains to be seen, but one thing’s for sure: the bromance is over, and the battle lines are drawn.