Elon Musk Deletes Explosive Tweet Linking Trump to Epstein Files Amid Escalating Feud

The X CEO’s now-deleted post accusing Donald Trump of appearing in the Epstein files marks a dramatic twist in their public fallout, triggered by disputes over government spending and subsidies.

Although Elon Musk has long styled himself as a champion of “free speech,” the tech magnate is facing backlash for seemingly backpedaling after dropping an explosive accusation against former U.S. President Donald Trump.

In a dramatic escalation of their ongoing feud, Musk tweeted — and later deleted — a sensational claim that Trump is named in the sealed Jeffrey Epstein files. The now-removed tweet read:
“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!”

The post appeared on Musk’s platform X (formerly Twitter) and immediately set off a media firestorm before disappearing from his account. He followed it up with another ominous message:
“Mark this post for the future. The truth will come out.”
That, too, has since vanished.

The clash comes on the heels of Musk’s public denouncement of Trump’s proposed “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” a controversial spending bill projected to balloon the national deficit by an estimated $2.4 trillion over the next decade. Musk, who stepped down from his role at DOGE last month, has criticized the bill as fiscally irresponsible.

The feud escalated when Trump allegedly threatened to revoke government subsidies to Tesla. In retaliation, Musk appeared to strike back with the Epstein allegation — a deeply sensitive and legally fraught claim.

Though connections between Trump and the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein have long been scrutinized — the two were known to have attended social events together in the 1990s — Trump has consistently denied any involvement in Epstein’s criminal activities.

CNN anchor Dana Bash later reported that she had spoken to Trump about the incident. According to Bash, Trump appeared more “resigned” than outraged by Musk’s posts, telling her:
“I’m not even thinking about Elon. He’s got a problem. The poor guy has got a problem.”

Bash added that Trump said he wouldn’t be speaking with Musk “for a while” but extended a tepid olive branch, stating that he “wishes Elon Musk well.”

The deleted tweets have fueled speculation over the state of Musk’s mental focus and his increasingly erratic public behavior. Critics accuse Musk of weaponizing his platform to settle personal vendettas, while supporters argue he is pushing boundaries to expose corruption.

This dramatic shift in Musk and Trump’s once-friendly relationship underscores a broader realignment among right-leaning tech and political elites. Just a year ago, Musk declared on X, “I love Donald Trump as much as a straight man can love another man.” Now, their alliance appears to have imploded.

Whether the Epstein claim has any legal or factual standing remains unclear. What’s certain is that Musk’s deleted tweet will not easily be forgotten, and the fallout may only just be beginning.