A clash that began over electric vehicle subsidies has now intensified into a heated exchange between two of the most influential figures in the U.S. On Thursday afternoon, Elon Musk made a provocative and unfiltered post on X, alleging that President Donald Trump appears in confidential Jeffrey Epstein documents — a bombshell claim that quickly dominated social media.
“Time to drop the really big bomb: @realDonaldTrump is in the Epstein files,” Musk posted to his 200+ million followers. “That is the real reason they have not been made public. Have a nice day, DJT!”
Although Musk provided no proof to support his assertion, he reaffirmed it moments later. “Mark this post for the future,” he wrote. “The truth will come out.”
This marks the most intense moment yet in the increasingly hostile and public deterioration of what was once a strong alliance between the Tesla and SpaceX CEO and the former president.
The accusation was not entirely unexpected. Over the past several days, Musk has repeatedly denounced Trump’s $1.6 trillion “One Big, Beautiful Bill,” which cuts electric vehicle incentives and introduces new charges for EV owners. Musk has harshly criticized the bill as a “disgusting abomination,” blaming it for derailing clean energy initiatives and worsening the country’s financial state.
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In response, Trump has implied that Musk’s outbursts stem from personal gain and disloyalty, suggesting his change of stance came only after his businesses’ government advantages were threatened. “Elon knew the inner workings of this bill better than almost anybody,” Trump said during a press event earlier Thursday. “All of a sudden, he had a problem — after the EV mandate was cut.”
What initially began as a policy dispute over electric vehicle incentives has now escalated into a fierce and very public verbal clash between two of the most influential figures in the U.S. In a bold and unfiltered message posted to X on Thursday afternoon, Elon Musk alleged that President Donald Trump is named in the still-sealed Jeffrey Epstein documents — a bombshell that sent shockwaves across social media platforms.
“Time to drop the really big bomb: @realDonaldTrump is in the Epstein files,” Musk posted to his 200+ million followers. “That is the real reason they have not been made public. Have a nice day, DJT!”
Although Musk did not provide supporting documentation, he reiterated his stance shortly thereafter. “Mark this post for the future,” he wrote. “The truth will come out.”
This latest outburst represents the most volatile stage in what has become a dramatic and very public fallout between the Tesla and SpaceX chief executive and the 47th U.S. president, once considered close allies.
The claim wasn’t entirely without context. In recent days, Musk has launched repeated attacks on Trump’s $1.6 trillion “One Big, Beautiful Bill,” a sweeping piece of legislation that reduces electric vehicle incentives and imposes new charges on EV drivers. Musk has called the bill a “disgusting abomination,” charging the Trump administration with undermining clean energy while pushing the country further into financial crisis.
Trump, meanwhile, has accused Musk of turning against him out of personal interest, alleging the shift occurred only after federal support for his companies came under threat. “Elon knew the inner workings of this bill better than almost anybody,” Trump said during a press event earlier Thursday. “All of a sudden, he had a problem — after the EV mandate was cut.”
Musk wasted no time firing back, denying any early knowledge of the legislation. He called Trump’s claims “false” and slammed the bill’s passage as having been rushed through Congress “in the dead of night so fast that almost no one in Congress could even read it!”
The rapidly widening divide has taken many Republican figures by surprise. Once seen as a strategic advantage for Trump’s reelection push, Musk is now rallying opposition to the bill, encouraging the public to demand its defeat.
“Call your Senator. Call your Congressman,” Musk wrote earlier this week. “Bankrupting America is NOT ok!”
Trump hasn’t remained silent either. He has threatened to revoke federal support for Musk’s enterprises, declaring, “The easiest way to save money in our Budget… is to terminate Elon’s Governmental Subsidies and Contracts,” in a post on Truth Social.
The fallout has triggered serious division among their mutual base of supporters. Some of Trump’s backers have branded Musk a “traitor,” while others interpret Trump’s actions as a sign of political desperation. Yet it was Musk’s Epstein-related accusation that truly intensified the feud.
Back in February, Attorney General Pam Bondi authorized the partial release of declassified files tied to Jeffrey Epstein. The documents included items that had previously circulated, such as flight manifests from Epstein’s infamous private aircraft and a redacted version of his contact directory. One of the newly disclosed items, called the “Evidence List,” detailed possessions seized from Epstein’s various properties — including surveillance equipment, photographs, and other potentially compromising content.
Still, the long-awaited release left many underwhelmed. Analysts noted that much of the information had already been disclosed and that heavy redactions obscured any new revelations.
Bondi acknowledged that her team had only been given access to a fraction of the entire archive. She has since submitted an official request for the FBI to release the remaining materials. As of June, a substantial portion of the Epstein documentation remains classified.
The FBI has maintained that Epstein’s death was self-inflicted. Citing “video evidence and other materials,” officials have reiterated their position in hopes of quelling persistent conspiracy theories.
