He helped him get elected, obtained a cupboard put up, donated $300 million, and even let his son attend White Home dinners. Then got here the breakup—and the tweet Musk later deleted: Donald Trump was within the Epstein information. And now we all know—he was proper. Pam Bondi privately informed Trump in Might that his identify appeared within the DOJ’s Epstein doc overview. Trump denied it. The Justice Division buried it. And Musk—who’d already torched the bromance—turned out to be the one telling the reality.
TL;DR
- In June 2025,
Elon Musk posted (then deleted) a tweet suggesting Donald Trump’s identify was within the unreleased Epstein information. - On July 23, it was confirmed that Lawyer Common Pam Bondi and her deputy privately briefed Trump in Might that his identify appeared a number of occasions within the DOJ’s Epstein-related paperwork.
- The DOJ declined to launch the total information, citing the presence of kid pornography and delicate sufferer info.
- Trump had publicly denied being knowledgeable; Bondi’s non-public briefing contradicts that.
- The incident has deepened the rift between Musk and Trump, additional fracturing the Republican base.
The Deleted Tweet Was Proper
When Elon Musk posted a cryptic tweet in June implying Donald Trump may be named within the unreleased Epstein information, it was rapidly dismissed by Trump allies as conspiratorial innuendo. Musk later deleted the tweet. Now it’s official: the deleted tweet wasn’t a tantrum—it was a tip-off. Musk was proper.In keeping with senior administration officers, Lawyer Common Pam Bondi and her deputy knowledgeable President Trump in Might 2025 that his identify appeared a number of occasions within the Justice Division’s trove of Jeffrey Epstein-related paperwork. The White Home briefing reportedly included mentions of many outstanding people, not simply Trump. Bondi characterised the references as unverified rumour and mentioned no proof of legal wrongdoing was discovered.Regardless of this, the Justice Division selected to not launch the remaining information. In a press release printed on July 7, the division mentioned a lot of the unreleased materials contained youngster pornography or delicate sufferer info that may be sealed in courtroom. The memo additionally acknowledged no “shopper record” was found and that the information included no foundation for additional investigations into uncharged third events.However as soon as it grew to become clear that Trump’s identify was in truth among the many paperwork, the choice to withhold them has come beneath recent scrutiny.
Trump Denies, DOJ Contradicts
On July 15, when requested by an ABC Information journalist whether or not Pam Bondi had knowledgeable him about his identify showing within the Epstein information, Trump replied: “No, no, she’s—she’s given us only a very fast briefing.”That denial doesn’t maintain up. Senior officers now verify Trump was explicitly informed in regards to the mentions in the course of the Might assembly on the White Home—contradicting his public declare.The revelation has triggered political fallout—not only for Trump but in addition for Bondi and the Justice Division. Critics from throughout the spectrum have accused the administration of suppressing info for political causes, particularly given Trump’s 2024 marketing campaign pledge to declassify all Epstein-related paperwork in full.
The Bromance That Blew Up
The affirmation additionally marks the sharpest rupture but in Musk’s once-close relationship with Trump. After endorsing him in 2024, Musk donated $300 million to GOP operations and was appointed head of the Division of Authorities Effectivity (DOGE). He was regularly noticed at fundraisers and high-level occasions, along with his son even attending White Home dinners.However by early 2025, the alliance soured. Musk criticised Trump’s tariffs, immigration coverage, and his flagship “One Massive Lovely Invoice,” which gutted EV subsidies. In Might, Musk resigned from DOGE. Weeks later got here the Epstein tweet—short-lived however, because it seems, correct.Trump retaliated by threatening federal contracts with Musk’s corporations. MAGA influencers turned on him. However the info now counsel the true betrayal wasn’t the tweet—it was the administration’s silence.
No Fees, Simply Chaos
To be clear, DOJ officers proceed to say that Trump will not be beneath investigation. Mentions within the Epstein information, they are saying, don’t quantity to legal proof. The supplies reportedly embody visitor lists, correspondence, and unverifiable claims—nothing actionable.Nonetheless, the political price is excessive. A 2023 Journal of Interpersonal Violence examine discovered that 78% of People imagine the Epstein case concerned a cover-up to defend highly effective figures. The choice to suppress extra information, coupled with Trump’s denial, has solely intensified that notion.Cowl-Up or Cleanup? DOJ Faces WarmthThe fallout has reached contained in the administration itself. Deputy FBI Director Dan Bongino reportedly clashed with Bondi behind closed doorways, accusing her of eroding public belief. Bondi, for her half, denies any wrongdoing and maintains the DOJ acted to guard victims and comply with federal regulation.The DOJ has since petitioned a federal courtroom to contemplate releasing restricted grand jury testimony, however officers admit the chances of approval are low. In the meantime, Musk has not commented publicly for the reason that WSJ’s July report—however he hasn’t wanted to. The info have executed the speaking.
FAQ
Was Trump named within the Epstein information?Sure. Lawyer Common Pam Bondi and her deputy briefed Trump in Might 2025 that his identify appeared a number of occasions in DOJ-reviewed Epstein-related supplies.Is Donald Trump beneath investigation?No. The DOJ has made clear that mentions within the information weren’t handled as legal proof and don’t point out wrongdoing.Why didn’t the DOJ launch the total Epstein information?The division cited the presence of kid pornography and the necessity to shield victims’ identities. A memo launched on July 7 acknowledged there was no Epstein “shopper record” and no additional information merited public disclosure.Did Trump publicly deny being informed his identify appeared within the paperwork?Sure. On July 15, Trump informed ABC Information he had solely acquired a “fast briefing” and was not informed about any references to himself.Did Elon Musk make this declare earlier than it was confirmed?Sure. In early June, Musk posted a tweet suggesting Trump was named within the Epstein information. He later deleted it. The declare was confirmed weeks later.Is Musk dealing with authorized motion for the put up?No. Trump has not taken any authorized motion towards Musk over the tweet.
