Elon Musk Deletes Explosive Tweet About Trump and Epstein Files—Here’s Why
Elon Musk Deletes Explosive Tweet About Trump and Epstein Files—Here’s Why
Tech billionaire Elon Musk stirred up controversy on Thursday after posting, and later deleting, a tweet alleging that the U.S. President Donald Trump is named in the unreleased Jeffrey Epstein files. The post, shared to Musk’s 220 million followers on X (formerly Twitter), immediately triggered a storm of reactions online before disappearing hours later.
“Time to drop the really big bomb,” Musk wrote. “@realDonaldTrump is in the Epstein files. That is the real reason they have not been made public. Have a nice day, DJT!”
Elon Musk’s Deleted tweet
The since-deleted message came amid a string of recent jabs Musk has taken at Trump and his legislative moves, particularly the president’s proposed federal spending bill currently under debate in Congress.
While Musk offered no evidence to support his claim, the post reignited long-standing questions around Trump’s past connections to Epstein, the disgraced financier and convicted sex offender who died in jail in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges. The controversy also signaled a potential escalation in what has become a frosty relationship between the two men—once seen as political allies.
Epstein’s Lawyer Weighs In
The tweet prompted a swift response from David Schoen, Epstein’s former defense attorney, who pushed back against the claim.
“I was hired to lead Jeffrey Epstein’s defense as his criminal lawyer nine days before he died,” Schoen wrote on X. “He sought my advice for months before that. I can say authoritatively, unequivocally, and definitively that he had no information to hurt President Trump. I specifically asked him.”
Despite Schoen’s comments, Trump’s name has surfaced in various Epstein-related documents over the years. In February, the U.S. Department of Justice released over 100 pages of Epstein’s phone records and flight logs. Those records linked Epstein to numerous high-profile individuals, including Bill Clinton, Bill Gates, and Trump, who was known to have socialized with Epstein in the 1990s.
Public History with Epstein
Trump and Epstein were photographed together at multiple social gatherings in the late ’90s. In a 2002 interview with New York Magazine, Trump described Epstein as “a terrific guy” who “likes beautiful women as much as I do, and many of them are on the younger side.”
However, their relationship reportedly soured in the early 2000s. Trump is said to have banned Epstein from his Mar-a-Lago resort in 2007 after an incident involving a teenage daughter of a club member. During his 2024 campaign trail, Trump has said he would support releasing more Epstein-related documents, claiming: “I never went to his island, fortunately, but a lot of people did.”
A Rift Between Former Allies?
Musk’s tweet marked a surprising turn in his relationship with Trump. Not long ago, the Tesla CEO expressed admiration for the former president, once stating he “loved him as much as a straight man can love another straight man.” In fact, Musk had previously worked with the Trump administration in an advisory role, though he later stepped down from government engagements.
A source familiar with both camps told reporters, “If Elon truly believed Trump was deeply involved with Epstein, why did he spend six months publicly defending him?”
Flight records released during Ghislaine Maxwell’s 2021 trial showed that Trump flew on Epstein’s private jet multiple times between 1993 and 1994. However, these records had already been part of the public discourse for years and do not prove direct involvement in Epstein’s criminal activities.
Speculations and the ‘Little Black Book’
Meanwhile, a second version of Epstein’s so-called “little black book” is reportedly being auctioned. The book allegedly highlights five names, including Trump’s, believed to belong to “well-known financial and industrial figures.”
Speculation continues to swirl online over which public figures may have visited Epstein’s Caribbean island, Little St. James — a location central to many of the abuse allegations. The Justice Department estimates that Epstein abused more than 250 underage girls across his multiple estates.
Musk has not issued any formal apology or follow-up on the deleted tweet. The White House, when contacted, said no call between Trump and Musk was scheduled, despite reports that the billionaire had tried reaching out following the online fallout.
With Musk’s silence and Trump’s camp choosing not to respond, the deleted tweet hangs in the air, fanning old embers of scandal and spotlighting the enduring mystery of Epstein’s vast network — and who may have been entangled in it.
