The tech billionaire and proprietor of Tesla and Starlink, Elon Musk, has accused United States President Donald Trump of being one of many names within the still-sealed Epstein information, and claims that that is the actual cause key paperwork are nonetheless being withheld from the general public.
In January 2024, most of the so-called “Epstein information” compiled by US federal investigators have been launched to the general public. Nevertheless, some remained sealed.
Trump’s presidency started with a robust enhance from Musk, who donated giant sums to Trump’s presidential marketing campaign and was appointed to steer a newly fashioned federal company aimed toward streamlining authorities operations, the Division of Authorities Effectivity (DOGE).
However that relationship fractured after Musk resigned from the function in Might 2025, following mounting public backlash over fiscal insurance policies and a pointy decline in Tesla’s inventory.
Since then, Musk has develop into more and more vocal in his criticism of Trump, calling his “One Massive Stunning Invoice” a “disgusting abomination” for growing the nationwide debt and eliminating electrical automobile subsidies, and, now, accusing him of hyperlinks to Epstein.
Right here’s what we all know concerning the Epstein information and Musk’s accusations.
What are the Epstein information?
The “Epstein information” are a set of paperwork compiled by US federal authorities throughout investigations into the actions of Jeffrey Epstein, the now-deceased financier and convicted intercourse offender.
These information embody flight logs, contact lists, courtroom data and different supplies documenting his actions and associations with high-profile people.
The primary main launch of the paperwork passed off in January 2024, when a federal choose ordered the unsealing of data from a 2015 defamation lawsuit in opposition to Epstein’s affiliate, Ghislaine Maxwell.
In February 2025, the Division of Justice and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) adopted up with an official declassification of further paperwork, a lot of which had already leaked, that includes redacted flight logs and get in touch with books.
Nevertheless, many paperwork stay sealed or closely redacted, prompting public requires full disclosure.
US Legal professional Basic Pamela Bondi acknowledged that the FBI is reviewing tens of 1000’s of paperwork, with additional releases pending obligatory redactions to guard victims and ongoing investigations.
What has Musk stated concerning the Epstein information?
On Thursday, Musk publicly accused President Donald Trump of being named within the unreleased Epstein information.
In a put up on his social media platform X, Musk wrote: “@realDonaldTrump is within the Epstein information. That’s the actual cause they haven’t been made public.” He didn’t present any proof to help this declare.
Time to drop the actually large bomb:@realDonaldTrump is within the Epstein information. That’s the actual cause they haven’t been made public.
Have a pleasant day, DJT!
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) June 5, 2025
Has Trump responded?
Trump has indirectly addressed Musk’s declare relating to the Epstein information.
Nevertheless, throughout a assembly with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on the White Home on Thursday, Trump stated he was “very disenchanted” by Musk’s criticism of the fiscal invoice and urged that Musk’s opposition was right down to the elimination of electrical automobile subsidies.
“Elon was ‘carrying skinny,’ I requested him to go away, I took away his EV Mandate that compelled everybody to purchase Electrical Automobiles that no one else needed (that he knew for months I used to be going to do!), and he simply went CRAZY!” Trump wrote in a social media put up on Thursday.
Trump additionally threatened to terminate federal contracts and subsidies for Musk’s firms, together with Tesla and SpaceX, stating that this may save the US authorities billions of {dollars}.
What will we learn about Trump’s relationship with Epstein?
Trump and Epstein have been acquaintances within the Nineteen Eighties and Nineteen Nineties, typically seen at social events collectively in New York and Palm Seaside, Florida. Their appearances collectively have been documented in information protection and social pages on the time, whereas US media reported the 2 grew to become shut in the course of the Nineteen Nineties when Epstein purchased a mansion close to Trump’s Mar-a-Lago compound in Palm Seaside.
A 1992 video printed by NBC Information reveals Trump and Epstein socialising and watching dancers at a celebration hosted at Mar-a-Lago.
In a 2002 profile of Epstein by New York Journal, Trump was quoted describing Epstein as a “terrific man” who loved the corporate of lovely girls “on the youthful facet”.
“I’ve recognized Jeff for 15 years. Terrific man. He’s loads of enjoyable to be with. It’s even stated that he likes stunning girls as a lot as I do, and lots of of them are on the youthful facet,” Trump stated.
Flight logs launched throughout courtroom proceedings in opposition to Maxwell present that Trump flew on Epstein’s non-public jet at the very least seven instances between 1993 and 1997, often with relations.
Epstein’s “Black E-book” – a contact listing obtained in 2015 by Gawker, a now-defunct US weblog that lined celebrities and media – was later submitted as courtroom proof and listed a number of cellphone numbers and addresses for Trump, together with his workplace, house and Mar-a-Lago.
What occurs now?
As soon as allies, Musk’s relationship with Trump has deteriorated considerably since his criticism of Trump’s fiscal coverage and subsequent allegations concerning the Epstein information.
Trump’s threats to chop federal contracts with Musk’s firms led to a 14 p.c drop in Tesla’s inventory worth. Musk has since known as for Trump’s impeachment and substitute with US Vice President JD Vance.
This public spat has additionally drawn consideration from political figures, with some Democrats demanding the discharge of the total Epstein information and questioning whether or not they’re being withheld because of potential implications for Trump.