Musk reignites conspiracy theory with Trump–Epstein claim
WASHINGTON: With one post linking Donald Trump to disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein, Elon Musk has reignited a long-running conspiracy theory beloved by the US president's far-right supporters.
The tech billionaire – who stepped down from his role as a top White House adviser just last week – alleged on Thursday that the Republican leader is named in secret government files on wealthy and powerful former associates of Epstein.
The Trump administration has acknowledged it is reviewing tens of thousands of documents, videos and investigative material that his "MAGA" movement claims will unmask public figures complicit in Epstein's crimes.
"Time to drop the really big bomb: (Trump) is in the Epstein files," Musk posted on his social media platform, X, as a growing feud with the president spilled into a vicious public spat.
"That is the real reason they have not been made public."
Supporters on the conspiratorial end of Trump's base allege that Epstein's associates had their roles in his crimes covered up by government officials and others.
They typically point the finger at Democrats and Hollywood celebrities – not Trump himself – and no official source has ever confirmed that the president appears in any of the material.
Musk did not specify which files he was referring to, nor did he provide any evidence for his claim.
White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt on Thursday called Musk's behaviour "an unfortunate episode," adding that the Tesla tycoon is "unhappy with the One Big Beautiful Bill because it does not include the policies he wanted."
Nonetheless, the allegation sparked renewed calls for the release of the material – this time from Democrats eager to turn a MAGA conspiracy theory back on its proponents.
Epstein died by suicide in a New York prison in 2019 after being charged with sex trafficking.
Trump has denied spending time on Little Saint James, the private retreat in the US Virgin Islands where prosecutors allege Epstein trafficked underage girls.
The president stated ahead of his election last year that he would have "no problem" releasing files related to Epstein.
The administration has already made public over 63,000 pages linked to the JFK assassination, but Trump has not fully delivered on his pledge regarding the Epstein files.
Documented links
PolitiFact investigated Trump's denials and found that the president had flown on Epstein's jet at least seven times, and that the two attended the same parties in the 1990s.
However, it also noted there was no evidence Trump visited Epstein's island.
"Terrific guy," said Trump – who was Epstein's neighbour in both Florida and New York – in an early 2000s profile of Epstein.
"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."
One of Epstein's victims, Virginia Giuffre – who died by suicide in April, according to her family – filed a lawsuit alleging he had flown her to sexual encounters with royals, politicians and others when she was underage.
Thousands of pages of records from the case were released in 2019, with more following in 2024, though they offered little concrete evidence of wrongdoing by well-known individuals.
Opposition Democrats seized on Musk's claim to renew their calls for greater transparency.
"I called for the full release of the Epstein files a month ago because I suspected that (Attorney General Pam Bondi) was concealing them to protect Donald Trump," posted New York congressman Dan Goldman on X.
"Now my suspicion has been confirmed."
His fellow House Democrat Ted Lieu of California said Musk's accusation affirmed his belief that Trump is "all over the Epstein files."
"I urge the Department of Justice to release all the Epstein files. What is the Trump administration hiding?" he said.
Tim Miller, a former Republican National Committee spokesman turned vocal Trump critic, echoed the call:
"The American people deserve to know if our president is a paedophile," he posted on X.
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