Once Close Partners, Trump and Musk Trade Barbs as Musk Alleges Trump’s Name in Epstein Files

June 5, 2025 | Washington, D.C. - The once-robust alliance between President Donald Trump and billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk has imploded in a spectacular public feud, culminating in Musk’s explosive claim on June 5, 2025, that Trump is named in the Jeffrey Epstein files. The rift, which has been brewing for months, has unfolded across social media platforms, notably Trump’s Truth Social and Musk’s X, drawing global attention to the dramatic breakdown of their relationship. Here’s a step-by-step breakdown of how this high-profile bromance turned into a bitter war of words.

The Origin of the Rift: Early Tensions (2020–2024)

The relationship between Trump and Musk has always been complex, marked by periods of mutual support and underlying tensions. Their connection dates back to at least 2020, when Trump publicly backed Musk during Tesla’s factory shutdown disputes with California health officials, tweeting, “California should let Tesla & @elonmusk open the plant, NOW.” This gesture aligned with Musk’s frustration with government overreach, setting the stage for their alliance.

However, cracks appeared as early as 2018 when Jeffrey Epstein, the disgraced financier and convicted sex offender, claimed to a New York Times reporter that he had been advising Musk. Musk denied this at the time, and the issue did not immediately impact his relationship with Trump. Still, Musk’s own tangential connections to Epstein, including a photographed encounter with Epstein’s associate Ghislaine Maxwell at a Vanity Fair Oscar party, have resurfaced in public discourse, adding fuel to later tensions.

By 2024, Musk became a significant financial backer of Trump’s reelection campaign, reportedly spending hundreds of millions to support the effort. Their partnership deepened when Trump appointed Musk to lead the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), a temporary role aimed at slashing federal spending. The two appeared together frequently, including at a May 30, 2025, Oval Office press conference, where Trump praised Musk as “one of the greatest business leaders and innovators the world has ever produced.”

The Turning Point: Policy Disagreements (May–June 2025)

The rift began to widen in late May 2025, as Musk’s 130-day tenure at DOGE neared its end. Despite Trump’s effusive praise, sources close to both men described growing friction over policy differences. Musk, tasked with cutting $1 trillion from the federal budget, faced criticism for overstated savings claims and legal setbacks, which strained his relationship with Trump’s administration.

The primary flashpoint was Trump’s signature tax and spending bill, dubbed the “Big Beautiful Bill” (BBB). Musk, initially a supporter of fiscal restraint, publicly criticized the bill as a “disgusting abomination” on June 3, 2025, arguing it undermined efforts to reduce federal spending. He took to X, urging his over 200 million followers to pressure Congress to “KILL the BILL.” A key point of contention was the bill’s provision to cut electric vehicle (EV) tax credits, which directly impacted Tesla. Although Musk had previously supported ending the EV credit, Tesla’s recent opposition to its removal highlighted his shifting stance.

Trump, who had touted the bill as a cornerstone of his economic agenda, was reportedly blindsided by Musk’s criticism. On June 4, 2025, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt downplayed Musk’s remarks, stating that Trump was aware of Musk’s position but remained focused on the bill’s passage. House Speaker Mike Johnson, a key ally in pushing the legislation, called Musk “terribly wrong” and defended the bill’s “record tax cuts” and savings.

Escalation: Personal Attacks and Social Media Warfare (June 5, 2025)

The feud exploded into the public sphere on June 5, 2025, as both men took to their respective platforms to trade personal attacks. Trump, addressing Musk’s criticism for the first time, expressed disappointment during a press interaction, stating, “Elon & I had a great relationship, I don’t know if we will anymore.” He suggested Musk’s attacks stemmed from frustration over the loss of EV tax breaks and claimed he had asked Musk to leave the White House because he was “wearing thin.” Trump escalated further on Truth Social, threatening to terminate billions in federal contracts and subsidies for Musk’s companies, including Tesla and SpaceX, writing, “The easiest way to save money in our Budget, Billions and Billions of Dollars, is to terminate Elon’s Governmental Subsidies and Contracts.”

Musk, undeterred, responded in real-time on X, intensifying the conflict with a series of posts. He accused House Speaker Mike Johnson of hypocrisy for supporting the bill, which Musk claimed added to the national debt, contradicting DOGE’s mission. The feud reached a boiling point when Musk posted at 14:10 CDT on June 5, 2025: “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 Epstein Files Allegation: Context and Impact

Musk’s claim that Trump is named in the Jeffrey Epstein files refers to government documents related to the financier’s sex trafficking case. In February 2025, Attorney General Pam Bondi announced the release of the “first phase” of declassified Epstein documents, though much of the information was already public. Court records unsealed in prior years named both Trump and former President Bill Clinton, among others, but neither has been accused of wrongdoing in connection to Epstein. Musk’s allegation suggested that Trump’s reluctance to fully declassify the files stemmed from personal involvement, a claim that has not been substantiated by available evidence.

The accusation sent shockwaves through social and traditional media, with outlets like Newsweek, The Daily Beast, and Hindustan Times reporting on Musk’s “bombshell” claim. Tesla’s stock, already under pressure, slid more than 16% on June 5, 2025, marking its worst decline since March 2020.

Trump’s Response: Deflection and Counterattacks

Trump’s immediate response to Musk’s Epstein claim was uncharacteristically restrained. In posts on Truth Social, he doubled down on his earlier criticisms, calling Musk “CRAZY” and reiterating that Musk’s departure from the White House was due to his erratic behavior and opposition to the EV mandate’s removal. Trump also dismissed Musk’s role in his 2024 election victory, telling reporters he would have won key swing states like Pennsylvania “regardless” of Musk’s support.

Notably, Trump did not directly address the Epstein files allegation, a departure from his usual confrontational style. Instead, he focused on discrediting Musk, suggesting the billionaire’s criticisms were driven by personal and financial motives rather than principle. Sources close to the administration indicated that Trump was advised to avoid engaging directly with the Epstein claim to prevent further escalation.

The Bigger Picture: A Fractured Alliance

The Trump-Musk feud reflects deeper tensions within their respective visions for America’s future. Musk, who positioned himself as a reformer through DOGE, clashed with Trump’s administration over policy priorities, particularly the balance between tax cuts and fiscal restraint. His public attacks on the BBB and personal jabs at Trump signal a shift from ally to adversary, with Musk leveraging his platform on X to amplify his criticisms.

For Trump, the feud risks alienating a powerful figure whose financial and public support was instrumental in his 2024 victory. The Epstein files claim, while unproven, introduces a new layer of controversy, potentially reigniting scrutiny of Trump’s past associations. Meanwhile, Musk’s own ties to Epstein, though tangential, complicate his credibility on the issue.

What’s Next?

As of now, the feud shows no signs of abating. Musk’s provocative posts continue to dominate X, while Trump’s allies rally to defend the president and the BBB. The Epstein files allegation, though lacking concrete evidence, has reignited public interest in the transparency of those documents, putting pressure on the administration to address the issue. Whether this marks the definitive end of the Trump-Musk alliance or a temporary flare-up remains uncertain, but the fallout is already reshaping political and financial landscapes, with Tesla’s stock in freefall and Trump’s legislative agenda under scrutiny.

The world watches as two of its most influential figures trade blows, proving that even the most powerful alliances can fracture under the weight of ambition, policy, and personal grudges.