US Politics
Elon Musk urges release of Epstein files weeks after accusing Trump of being named in them
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Elon Musk has renewed calls to release the unredacted Jeffrey Epstein files, weeks after accusing Donald Trump of being in them.
After the president reignited the pair’s rift earlier this week, the tech billionaire issued a one-word reply to MAGA activist Scott Presler on X on Thursday, who wrote: “Release the unredacted Epstein files.”
“Yes,” Musk responded, without explicitly mentioning Trump.
The demand came just hours before the House was expected to vote on the president’s showpiece tax bill, which Musk claims will push the U.S. into “debt slavery.”
Musk began calling for the release of the remaining investigative documents related to Epstein’s sex-trafficking case after his explosive fallout with Trump last month over the president’s “pork-filled” signature megabill.
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After promising to release the “first phase” of declassified Epstein files on February 27, Attorney General Pam Bondi faced MAGA backlash when the documents turned out to contain information already publicly available.
The Tesla CEO claimed, without evidence, that the “real reason” the documents remained sealed was that the president was somehow connected to the disgraced financier’s crimes.
“Time to drop the really big bomb,” Musk tweeted on June 5. “@realDonaldTrump is in the Epstein files. That is the real reason they have not been made public. Have a nice day, DJT!”
He followed up shortly after: “Mark this post for the future. The truth will come out.”
While Trump and Epstein were friends for decades before their fall-out in the early 2000s, the president has denied any knowledge of Epstein’s abuse.
About six days later, Musk said he regretted some of the posts about Trump, claiming they “went too far.”
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On Monday, Trump rekindled his feud with Musk, threatening to unleash the Department of Government Efficiency – the government slashing force Musk once ran – against him and warning he may have to “go back to South Africa.”
The veiled threat was in response to Musk escalating his anti-Republican rhetoric and his scathing criticism of the president’s “big, beautiful bill,” which House Republicans are hoping to send to Trump’s desk by their Independence Day deadline.
“Elon may get more subsidy than any human being in history, by far, and without subsidies, Elon would probably have to close up shop and head back home to South Africa,” Trump said.
“No more Rocket launches, Satellites, or Electric Car Production, and our Country would save a FORTUNE. Perhaps we should have DOGE take a good, hard, look at this? BIG MONEY TO BE SAVED!!!”
The current version of the president’s bill could make electric vehicle ownership more expensive by eliminating consumer tax credits for new EVs.
Trump said earlier this week that the Biden administration’s EV mandate is “ridiculous,” adding: “Electric cars are fine, but not everyone should be forced to own one.”
