
Elon Musk accuses rival billionaire of trying to ‘destroy' Trump to stop ‘Epstein List' from coming out
Elon Musk made wild accusations about 'known clients' of convicted pedophile Jeffrey Epstein during an appearance on Joe Rogan's right-wing podcast, claiming former President Bill Clinton, Microsoft founder Bill Gates and LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman were all worried about being named in the so-called 'Epstein List.'
Additionally, the world's richest man and Donald Trump's 'first buddy' claimed Hoffman was 'so intent on destroying Trump' during the 2024 presidential election, specifically to keep the 'list from coming out.'
Musk taped his appearance on The Joe Rogan Experience, which was released on Friday afternoon, just after Attorney General Pam Bondi released the 'first phase' of the 'Epstein files' to a cadre of MAGA influencers on Thursday. Despite hyping the release of the supposedly secret FBI documents as a bombshell, the binders Bondi delivered to Trump supporters turned out to contain very little new information about Epstein's criminal cases.
Instead, the roughly 200 pages of documents mainly consisted of flight logs on Epstein's planes and some contact information of his hundreds of associates, including Donald Trump, as well as an inventory of some of the items found in the homes that the FBI raided.
What wasn't included, though, was any fresh allegations about Epstein or any other associates, prompting the MAGA faithful to rage about the lack of new evidence while alleging a 'Deep State' conspiracy.
Sensing the anger from the right, who have long used the Epstein case to fuel other conspiracy theories, Bondi instructed New York's FBI field office to turn over 'all records, documents, audio and video recordings, and materials related to Jeffrey Epstein and his clients, regardless of how such information was obtained' by Friday morning.
Midway through their three-hour-long chat, Rogan cited the criminal cases against Trump as part of a Democratic-led 'lawfare' campaign to prevent him from running for office again. Musk, meanwhile, noted that Hoffman helped back columnist E. Jean Carroll's lawsuit against Trump, which found the president liable for sexual abuse and defamation.
'That lawsuit was funded by Reid Hoffman, who is a major Dem donor and also an Epstein client,' the DOGE chief alleged.
'The plot thickens!' Rogan responded. 'Jesus Christ, it's just so blatant. It's like so obvious. The SpaceX lawsuit, the Trump stuff, it's just so obvious.'
With the conspiracy-peddling podcaster setting the stage, Musk then accused Hoffman of trying to keep Trump from returning to the White House in order to prevent FBI evidence against Epstein and possibly others from being made public.
'Known Epstein clients who are obviously extremely powerful – powerful politically and very wealthy – are Bill Gates, Bill Clinton and Reid Hoffman,' Musk alleged. 'And some others, too. But those three.'
While a stunned-looking Rogan let out an exasperated sigh, Musk added: 'Why was Reid Hoffman so intent on destroying Trump?'
After Rogan asked if 'they were worried about the list coming out,' the X (formerly Twitter) owner flatly replied: 'Yeah.'
The two would go on to express their frustration about 'sitting in the situation where the list isn't coming out,' with Rogan complaining that Thursday's document dump had 'nothing in it that's new.'
Musk, on the other hand, reiterated that Bondi and FBI Director Kash Patel are now the 'captain of a ship with a hostile crew,' suggesting that they are the victims of a coverup by career officials working for them.
This isn't the first time that Musk has pushed baseless claims about Hoffman as it relates to his relationship with Epstein.
During an interview with former Fox News host Tucker Carlson in October, the SpaceX CEO said Hoffman was one of the 'billionaires behind Kamala' Harris who were 'terrified' over the prospect of Epstein's client list becoming public. Additionally, Musk approvingly retweeted a post that claimed the billionaire was 'TERRIFIED about Trump releasing the Epstein client list after all his visits to Epstein Island.'
In an interview with The Sunday Times in December, Hoffman said Musk had made a 'conviction with no evidence' that he had a close relationship with Epstein and partied with the disgraced financier – who committed suicide in 2019 while awaiting trial over sex crimes.
Hoffman added that he also had received threats of violence and had to hire security due to Musk's conspiracy theories about him.
Hoffman said in 2019 that he regretted helping to 'repair' Epstein's reputation by introducing him to tech moguls in prior years while he sought donations to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). He claimed that Epstein had passed MIT's 'vetting process' at the time, adding: 'My lesson is I should go do my own research.'
At the same time, Hoffman claimed that he 'went to no Epstein parties' and wasn't really familiar with the financier's sullied reputation at the time.
Adding that he didn't associate with Epstein after 2015, he speculated that Musk's sordid claims about him were 'seeded when he invited his old friend to an MIT fundraising dinner that was also attended by Epstein in 2015.'
'Elon's defamation makes me angry and sad,' he told the Times. 'Angry because it is an ugly assault. Sad because it comes from someone whose entrepreneurial achievements I continue to admire.'
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles

South Wales Argus
an hour ago
- South Wales Argus
Abergavenny mosque plan could be put on hold at meeting
Monmouthshire council's ruling cabinet agreed in May to grant a 30-year lease to the Monmouthshire Muslim Community Association who plan to use the vacant building as a mosque and cultural centre. It would be the county's first mosque. However three councillors have 'called in' the decision meaning it will be reviewed at a special meeting of the council's place scrutiny committee. The nine member, cross party committee, will have to decide whether to accept the cabinet's original decision to grant the lease or if they agree there were flaws in the decision making process they can ask the cabinet to look at the decision again. The committee also has the power to refer the decision to the full council, which would then have to look at how the decision was made and decide whether to accept it or send it back to the cabinet to reconsider. If the cabinet does have to take the decision again it must do so within ten working days and will be asked to consider the comments made but can stick by its original decision, amend it or overturn it. Conservative councillors Louise Brown and Rachel Buckler, who represent Shirenewton and Devauden in the south of Monmouthshire, and Llanelly Hill independent Simon Howarth called the decision, made by the Labour-led cabinet, in for review. Their request highlights three grounds for doing so which are a claimed 'lack of proper scrutiny/due process and community consultation', how the building was marketed and their concerns over 'best value' at the £6,000 a year lease. When the cabinet agreed to grant the lease it was stated the accepted bid was the highest scoring on the application process that was intended to explore opportunities to maximise social benefit and generate a financial return from an otherwise empty building. The cabinet was also told 30-year leases were common and the cabinet had declared the building, that was last used as a pupil referral unit, as surplus in November when it granted the council's landlord services permission to market the building as available to lease. It was built by Scottish American philanthropist Andrew Carnegie, though it closed as a library in 2015 when the service transferred to the town hall. Councillors were also told commercial uses, which could be allowed under the restrictions of the building's covenant, had been considered and the agreed rent was said to be in the context of 'significant investment' required, from the lease holders, in the 120-year-old grade II listed building. The call in also states 'community engagement is required' as no planning permission is needed as there is no change in the use class of the building. The special meeting will take place, at Monmouthshire County Hall in Usk, on Wednesday, June 11 at 5.30pm.


Daily Mirror
an hour ago
- Daily Mirror
Donald Trump's 'terrifying' order as National Guard descend on LA amid clashes
Donald Trump has called for the National Guard to be deployed in Los Angeles, with the troops soon descending on the city as violent clashes continue to break out President Donald Trump issued a chilling command as tensions escalated in Los Angeles, posting on his Truth Social page that things were "looking really bad" in the city. The 47th POTUS's remarks have sparked outrage from former Vice President Kamala Harris and political commentators who accuse him of inciting fear amid ongoing protests. As clashes between protesters and ICE agents intensify, Trump has instructed National Guard troops to intervene in LA, prompting California Governor Gavin Newsom to brand him a "stone cold liar." Trump's alarming call to action was made clear when he took to Truth Social. His comments have been widely criticised. He wrote: "Looking really bad in L.A. BRING IN THE TROOPS!!!" He then doubled down with another post demanding: "ARREST THE PEOPLE IN FACE MASKS, NOW!" Former Vice President Harris has slammed the decision to deploy the National Guard, releasing a statement that criticises Trump's "dangerous escalation" and expresses her dismay at the unrest in her hometown. Harris stated: "Los Angeles is my home. And like so many Americans, I am appalled at what we are witnessing on the streets of our city. Deploying the National Guard is a dangerous escalation meant to provoke chaos." Harris slammed the "recent ICE raids in Southern California and across our nation," as "part of the Trump Administration's cruel, calculated agenda to spread panic and division." She concluded her statement by asserting that the president was "stoking fear". Social media reactions to Harris were mixed, with one supporter enthusing: "If you were our PRESIDENT, we would be at peace right now! The future wouldn't be so scary." However, a critic responded: "This is why you and the party you represent lost. Keep 'em coming. We don't mind taking the midterms." Amid tensions, California Governor Gavin Newsom implored Vice President J.D. Vance to stop kindling unrest while Trump and Vance commended the National Guard for their efforts, despite their absence from the scene. Governor Newsom retorted on social media: "You didn't even know when your own National Guard was deployed on the ground. Stop fanning the flames." He pledged to arrest and prosecute "bad actors" but vowed to shield the "many, many peaceful protestors" as they exercise a "fundamental right", stressing: "But Donald Trump needs to pull back. He needs to stand down." Newson pointedly placed responsibility, saying: "Donald Trump is inflaming these conditions. This is Donald. Trump's problem right now. And if he can't solve it, we will." The National Guard and Donald Trump are facing a fierce backlash from the public, with one person taking to X to express their anger, writing: "Donald Trump is a weak leader. He does not know how to govern. Little child boy."


The Independent
an hour ago
- The Independent
Gov. Gavin Newsom is suing Donald Trump for ‘illegally' deploying National Guard to California ICE protests
California Governor Gavin Newsom says his state will go to court to stop President Donald Trump from taking control of state National Guard units without cause and using them against protesters opposed to the administration's mass deportation efforts. In a post on X on Monday, Newsom said the violence that has broken out in parts of Los Angeles during three days of weekend protests over Immigrations and Customs Enforcement raids and arrests, leading the president to activate California National Guard units to protect federal property, is 'exactly what Trump wanted.' Newsom accused Trump of having 'flamed the fires and illegally acted to federalize the National Guard' with a memorandum on Saturday in which Trump called the protests 'a form of rebellion against the authority of the Government of the United States' and at least 2,000 soldiers into federal service for the next two months. He also pointed out that the memorandum does not specifically mention California but instead leaves open the possibility of using both National Guard and active duty military to quell protests nationwide. 'It will allow him to go into ANY STATE and do the same thing,' he said. He added: 'We're suing him.' In a separate post late Sunday, Newsom said Trump was 'putting fuel on this fire' by 'commandeering a state's National Guard without consulting the Governor of that state' and called Trump's actions both 'illegal and immoral.' "California will be taking him to court,' he said. It was not immediately clear whether any litigation had been filed in any federal court, but White House spokesperson Abigal Jackson hit back against the California governor's threat in a statement, accusing Newsom of 'feckless leadership' that made him 'directly responsible for the lawless riots and violent attacks on law enforcement in Los Angeles.' 'Instead of filing baseless lawsuits meant to score political points with his left-wing base, Newsom should focus on protecting Americans by restoring law and order to his state,' Jackson added. For his part, Newsom had equally harsh words for Trump and top administration officials during an interview with Los Angeles-based actor turned progressive podcaster Brian Tyler Cohen in which he called Trump 'unhinged' and referred to the White House and Trump's cabinet as a 'band of misfits.'