Elon Musk sparked a political storm after he posted a 1992 video clip showing Donald Trump socialising with Jeffrey Epstein. The tech billionaire used the footage to support a bombshell claim—that the former US President appears in secret Epstein-related government files.
“Time to drop the really big bomb: @realDonaldTrump is in the Epstein files. That is the real reason they have not been made public. Have a nice day, DJT!” Musk posted on X on 6 June.
His accusation has since gone viral. But it's also reignited long-standing questions about Trump's past ties to Epstein, and why large portions of the so-called “Epstein files” remain sealed.
Trump and Epstein knew each other. That much is confirmed. The former president once described Epstein as “a terrific guy” in a 2002 New York Magazine profile. “He's a lot of fun to be with. It is even said that he likes beautiful women as much as I do, and many of them are on the younger side. No doubt about it—Jeffrey enjoys his social life,” Trump had said.
Though Trump has denied ever visiting Epstein’s private island in the US Virgin Islands, he admitted they moved in the same social circles. According to PolitiFact, Trump flew on Epstein's private jet at least seven times.
While Trump once claimed he had “no problem” with making the documents public, they have not been fully released. The Trump administration later admitted to reviewing large volumes of Epstein-related material.
But critics say those documents are deliberately being kept under wraps.
White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt dismissed Musk’s post as “an unfortunate episode,” accusing him of retaliation because a recent bill excluded provisions he supported.
Congressman Dan Goldman, a Democrat, saw it differently. He said his suspicion that the Attorney General was hiding Epstein-related files to protect Trump had now been “confirmed.” Ted Lieu echoed the demand, calling for the Justice Department to “come clean.”
Tim Miller, a former Republican staffer turned Trump critic, added fuel to the fire: “The American people deserve to know if our president is a paedophile.”
He bought mansions across the US and threw lavish parties. His guest lists included celebrities, politicians, and financiers. Epstein was convicted in 2008 after multiple accusations of sexual abuse of minors but avoided federal prosecution via a controversial plea deal.
He spent just 13 months in jail, with work-release privileges.
His former partner, Ghislaine Maxwell, was convicted in 2021 for helping him abuse underage girls and was sentenced to 20 years in prison. Meanwhile, the call to fully expose his network of powerful associates continues.
Reactions to Musk’s claim have been intense and mixed. Some see him as a whistleblower. Others accuse him of hypocrisy and showboating.
"You let your son hang out with a guy you knew was a paedophile. Make sure your lawyers are on standby," one X user wrote.
“If you knew this why did you willingly work with a paedophile?” another asked.
One more user pointed out: “You don’t get credit for exposing something everyone already knew was true, you’re just as complicit.”
Despite the noise, no new evidence has been presented to prove Musk’s claim. Still, the ripple effects are undeniable.
Whether Musk’s allegation is true or just a provocation, it has once again forced the spotlight onto unanswered questions around Epstein, elite connections, and sealed files.
In his own words, Musk added, “Mark this post for the future. The truth will come out.”
The internet, political class, and public are watching—and waiting.
“Time to drop the really big bomb: @realDonaldTrump is in the Epstein files. That is the real reason they have not been made public. Have a nice day, DJT!” Musk posted on X on 6 June.
His accusation has since gone viral. But it's also reignited long-standing questions about Trump's past ties to Epstein, and why large portions of the so-called “Epstein files” remain sealed.
Trump-Epstein ties back in the spotlight
Trump and Epstein knew each other. That much is confirmed. The former president once described Epstein as “a terrific guy” in a 2002 New York Magazine profile. “He's a lot of fun to be with. It is even said that he likes beautiful women as much as I do, and many of them are on the younger side. No doubt about it—Jeffrey enjoys his social life,” Trump had said.Though Trump has denied ever visiting Epstein’s private island in the US Virgin Islands, he admitted they moved in the same social circles. According to PolitiFact, Trump flew on Epstein's private jet at least seven times.
What are the Epstein Files?
The so-called “Epstein files” include thousands of pages of case documents, contact books, and video evidence gathered during investigations into Epstein’s child sex trafficking ring. Many files remain sealed, fuelling widespread speculation about who else might be implicated.While Trump once claimed he had “no problem” with making the documents public, they have not been fully released. The Trump administration later admitted to reviewing large volumes of Epstein-related material.
But critics say those documents are deliberately being kept under wraps.
Political fallout: Musk vs. Trump
Musk’s post followed his quiet exit from an advisory role at the White House. It comes after a public falling out with Trump over policy disagreements, including on EV mandates and subsidies.White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt dismissed Musk’s post as “an unfortunate episode,” accusing him of retaliation because a recent bill excluded provisions he supported.
Congressman Dan Goldman, a Democrat, saw it differently. He said his suspicion that the Attorney General was hiding Epstein-related files to protect Trump had now been “confirmed.” Ted Lieu echoed the demand, calling for the Justice Department to “come clean.”
Tim Miller, a former Republican staffer turned Trump critic, added fuel to the fire: “The American people deserve to know if our president is a paedophile.”
Epstein’s rise and fall
Jeffrey Epstein’s path to influence began in the 1970s when he taught physics at the Dalton School in New York. He had no university degree. A connection at Bear Stearns propelled him into finance, and by the 1980s, he was managing massive private fortunes.He bought mansions across the US and threw lavish parties. His guest lists included celebrities, politicians, and financiers. Epstein was convicted in 2008 after multiple accusations of sexual abuse of minors but avoided federal prosecution via a controversial plea deal.
He spent just 13 months in jail, with work-release privileges.
Death behind bars and what came after
In 2019, Epstein was arrested again. A month later, he was found dead in his New York jail cell, ruled a suicide. His death stopped a major trial in its tracks. Yet, fallout from his case didn’t end there.His former partner, Ghislaine Maxwell, was convicted in 2021 for helping him abuse underage girls and was sentenced to 20 years in prison. Meanwhile, the call to fully expose his network of powerful associates continues.
Reactions to Musk’s claim have been intense and mixed. Some see him as a whistleblower. Others accuse him of hypocrisy and showboating.
"You let your son hang out with a guy you knew was a paedophile. Make sure your lawyers are on standby," one X user wrote.
“If you knew this why did you willingly work with a paedophile?” another asked.
One more user pointed out: “You don’t get credit for exposing something everyone already knew was true, you’re just as complicit.”
Despite the noise, no new evidence has been presented to prove Musk’s claim. Still, the ripple effects are undeniable.
Whether Musk’s allegation is true or just a provocation, it has once again forced the spotlight onto unanswered questions around Epstein, elite connections, and sealed files.
In his own words, Musk added, “Mark this post for the future. The truth will come out.”
The internet, political class, and public are watching—and waiting.
