Billionaire Elon Musk publicly mocked US President Donald Trump, urging him to release the Jeffrey Epstein files as he had pledged during his campaign. Musk reacted to one of Trump’s recent posts by writing on X (formerly Twitter), “Seriously. He said ‘Epstein’ half a dozen times while telling everyone to stop talking about Epstein. Just release the files as promised."
Seriously.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) July 13, 2025
He said “Epstein” half a dozen times while telling everyone to stop talking about Epstein.
Just release the files as promised.
Tensions Flare Between Musk and Trump
The relationship between Musk and Trump has sharply declined in recent months. Musk once briefly served as head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) under Trump’s administration. However, their alliance soured after Musk criticised Trump’s tax legislation, mockingly referring to it as the “Big Beautiful Bill.”
Trump responded by threatening to strip federal contracts from Musk’s companies, such as SpaceX and Tesla. Things escalated further when Musk accused the Trump administration of withholding the Epstein files because Trump’s own name might appear in them. Though Musk later deleted the post and admitted he had “gone too far,” the damage had already been done.
Trump Shifts Blame and Defends Pam Bondi
In a post on Truth Social, Trump asked supporters to stop blaming him for the delayed release of the Epstein files. Instead, he claimed that former Presidents Barack Obama and Joe Biden, along with Democratic leader Hillary Clinton, were the ones who “created” the Epstein files.
Defending His Attorney General
Trump also came to the defense of Attorney General Pam Bondi, saying, “LET PAM BONDI DO HER JOB — SHE’S GREAT!"
He added, “One year ago, our Country was DEAD, now it’s the ‘HOTTEST’ Country anywhere in the World. Let’s keep it that way, and not waste Time and Energy on Jeffrey Epstein, somebody that nobody cares about.”
Backlash Grows Over Epstein Files
Trump’s supporters are now turning on him for not fulfilling his campaign promise to make the Epstein files public. Many in the MAGA movement suspect that powerful figures tied to Epstein are being protected by what they call the “Deep State.”
Conflicting Reports from DOJ and FBI
The issue resurfaced after the Justice Department and FBI released a joint memo, stating that Epstein died by suicide and that no further evidence exists to prosecute others. This directly contradicted Attorney General Pam Bondi’s earlier statement, where she claimed a “client list” was on her desk and could be released.
Republicans Show Signs of Frustration
Far-right activist Laura Loomer demanded Bondi’s dismissal, calling her “an embarrassment.” Former Trump aide Steve Bannon also weighed in, warning that the controversy could severely harm Republican chances in the 2026 midterm elections. “We could lose 30 to 40 seats if this isn’t handled,” Bannon said.