Elon Musk went nuclear on Donald Trump on Thursday (June 5). As he put it, it was “time to drop the really big bomb.”
According to Musk’s tweet, Trump is named in the infamous Epstein files. He wrote, “@realDonaldTrump is in the Epstein files. That is the real reason they have not been made public. Have a nice day, DJT!” He added, “Mark this post for the future. The truth will come out.”
The Epstein files refer to a vast collection of documents, videos and investigative materials compiled by federal and state authorities during multiple cases involving Jeffrey Epstein, the financier and convicted sex offender who died in jail in 2019.
These files include court records, flight logs, witness testimonies, contact lists and other evidence related to Epstein’s activities and his network of high-profile associates. Some of the most notable documents come from Virginia Giuffre’s 2015 defamation lawsuit against Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein’s associate. Over the years, portions of these files have been released, but many remain sealed or heavily redacted, with the Department of Justice citing the need to protect victims and ongoing investigations.
Public interest in the Epstein files has surged repeatedly, especially as they are rumored to contain the names of numerous powerful figures from politics, business and entertainment.
The feud between Musk and Trump was primarily triggered by Musk’s vocal criticism of Trump’s flagship legislative initiative, the so-called “big, beautiful bill.” This bill, which includes massive tax cuts, reductions in Medicaid and other social programs as well as increased funding for Trump’s priorities like border security, is projected by the Congressional Budget Office to significantly increase the national deficit.
Musk—who announced his tenure as head of Trump’s cost-cutting task force was nearing its conclusion last month—has called the bill “outrageous” and “a disgusting abomination,” arguing that it’s filled with unnecessary spending and unfairly slashes incentives for clean energy and electric vehicles—areas crucial to Musk’s business interests.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) June 5, 2025
In response, Trump has expressed deep disappointment, suggesting Musk’s opposition is motivated by the loss of federal subsidies for his companies and threatening to cancel lucrative government contracts with Musk’s businesses.
The dispute has quickly escalated beyond policy disagreements to personal attacks. Musk has claimed that Trump could not have won the presidency without his support, highlighting the significant financial and public backing he provided during the campaign. The conflict intensified further when Musk alleged on social media that Trump’s name appeared in files related to Jeffrey Epstein, suggesting this was the real reason for the lack of transparency around those records.
Trump, meanwhile, has mocked Musk and questioned his motivations, implying that Musk is upset over lost influence and government support. The breakdown in their relationship has been fueled by both political and personal grievances, including disagreements over NASA appointments, electric vehicle mandates, and unfulfilled financial commitments, turning what was once a strategic alliance into a bitter and very public feud.
Such an obvious lie. So sad. https://t.co/sOu9vqMVfX
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) June 5, 2025
And it’s growing worse by the minute.
Trump fired back, “The easiest way to save money in our budget, billions and billions of dollars, is to terminate Elon’s governmental subsidies and contracts. I was always surprised that Biden didn’t do it!” Elon replied, “In light of the President’s statements about cancellation of my government contracts, @SpaceX will begin decommissioning its Drago spacecraft immediately.”
Grab the popcorn.
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