In a dramatic escalation of tensions between Tesla CEO Elon Musk and U.S. President Donald Trump, Musk on Thursday alleged that Trump is named in the sealed Jeffrey Epstein files — a claim he says explains the government’s reluctance to release the documents publicly.
Taking to X (formerly Twitter), Musk wrote, “Time to drop the really big bomb: @realDonaldTrump is in the Epstein files. That is the real reason they have not been made public. Have a nice day, DJT.” In a follow-up post, Musk added, “Mark this post for the future. The truth will come out.”
Musk’s allegation followed Trump’s threat to revoke government contracts and subsidies to Musk’s companies, including SpaceX and Tesla. In response, Musk stated that SpaceX would begin “decommissioning its Dragon spacecraft immediately.”
The feud appears rooted in their disagreement over a recent U.S. tax and spending bill, which Musk has criticized for removing subsidies tied to electric vehicles (EVs) — a move that would significantly impact Tesla’s bottom line. The House recently passed the bill by a razor-thin margin, despite resistance from Democrats and a few Republicans.
Trump, speaking to reporters, expressed shock at Musk’s criticism. “I’ve always liked Elon. I was surprised. He knew everything about the bill. He had no problem with it until he found out we’re cutting EV mandates,” Trump said. He claimed Musk was upset over losing billions in government subsidies and suggested that Musk had tried to influence NASA leadership by recommending a Democrat, which Trump rejected.
The fallout between the two influential figures has grown increasingly personal. Trump recounted Musk attending briefings in the Oval Office and praised Musk’s past support during his campaign. “Elon endorsed me very strongly… I’m very disappointed. I’ve helped Elon a lot,” Trump said, referencing Musk’s past public praise.
Musk fired back online, denying Trump’s claims. “False. This bill was never shown to me even once and was passed in the dead of night… Such ingratitude,” he posted.
The clash is unfolding against the backdrop of renewed scrutiny over Jeffrey Epstein, the convicted sex offender whose 2019 jailhouse death fueled widespread conspiracy theories. Epstein’s associations with prominent global figures — including Trump, Prince Andrew, and Bill Clinton — have been the subject of sealed court records. While Trump has denied any wrongdoing or close association with Epstein, Musk’s posts have reignited public demands for transparency.
Trump previously stated, “I was never on Epstein’s Plane, or at his ‘stupid’ Island,” and has advocated for strong AI regulations — a seeming pivot during his denial of ties to Epstein.
Musk, meanwhile, has ramped up political commentary in recent weeks, including conducting a poll on whether America needs a new centrist political party. His increasingly sharp rhetoric and willingness to directly challenge Trump signal a rare public fracture between two of the most powerful voices in American business and politics.
As both men double down, the collision between personal vendettas, policy disputes, and explosive allegations promises to deepen a rift with far-reaching political implications.
