Elon Musk has made a bold claim regarding the non-release of the so-called "Epstein files," alleging that President Donald Trump's involvement is the reason for the delay.
Musk took to X, formerly Twitter, to state, "Time to drop the really big bomb: @realDonaldTrump is in the Epstein files. That is the real reason they have not been made public." He added, "Have a nice day, DJT!" and followed up with, "Mark this post for the future. The truth will come out."
Musk's assertion, however, lacks specific details or supporting evidence. House Democrats have already reacted to Musk's claim, with members of the oversight committee demanding a response from Justice Department officials.
Trump's association with Jeffrey Epstein has been a matter of public record for years. The two were known to be friends in the 1980s, frequently seen in the same social circles in Palm Beach and Manhattan. Trump's name has repeatedly surfaced in Epstein-related legal proceedings, though he has consistently denied any wrongdoing.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt described Musk's claims as "unfortunate." During his 2024 presidential campaign, Trump indicated he would support making government documents related to Epstein public if elected.
The exact meaning of "Epstein files" remains unclear. Attorney General Pamela Bondi and FBI Director Kash Patel have promised to release documents held by the Justice Department related to Epstein. These documents include Epstein's contact book, which lists Trump and his family members, and flight logs from Epstein's private jets, which also mention Trump.
Trump's Mar-a-Lago club was also a significant location in the criminal trial of Ghislaine Maxwell. One woman testified that Epstein took her to the club when she was 14 and introduced her to Trump. Additionally, documents from a lawsuit brought by Virginia Giuffre against Maxwell, which were made public in January 2024, include Trump's name.
The documents include excerpts from a deposition by Johanna Sjoberg, who accused Epstein of rape. Sjoberg mentioned visiting one of Trump's casinos after flying on Epstein's private jet. Other documents simply mention Trump as one of many high-profile individuals who were acquainted with Epstein.
Epstein died by suicide in a federal Manhattan jail in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex-trafficking charges. His associate, Ghislaine Maxwell, was convicted in late 2021 and sentenced to 20 years in prison. Musk himself was photographed with Maxwell at a 2014 Vanity Fair event and has denied any connection to Epstein.
In 2023, following a subpoena in litigation related to JPMorgan's ties to Epstein, Musk stated he never received financial advice from Epstein.