Tesla CEO and America Party founder Elon Musk has reignited his public feud with former U.S. President Donald Trump—this time over the contentious Epstein files. Musk, who recently launched the America Party with an agenda to “disrupt the one-party system,” sharply criticized Trump for withholding documents tied to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
“How can people be expected to have faith in Trump if he won’t release the Epstein files?” Musk wrote on X (formerly Twitter) on Tuesday. When asked whether exposing the Epstein files was a priority for his new political outfit, Musk responded with a “100” emoji, affirming it as a top issue.
How can people be expected to have faith in Trump if he won’t release the Epstein files?
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) July 8, 2025
This escalation follows renewed public interest in the long-suppressed Epstein files. A recent memo from the US Department of Justice (DOJ) stated that “no further disclosure would be appropriate or warranted,” citing no discovery of a “client list” despite reviewing materials from Epstein’s Manhattan home and private island.
America Party Targets Epstein Scandal Amid DOJ Pushback
During a recent White House press briefing, Trump was directly asked about the Epstein client list. He sidestepped the question, while Attorney General Pam Bondi dismissed it, saying, “He committed suicide.” Bondi had earlier claimed in February that the Epstein client list was “sitting on her desk,” and both had previously pledged to expose Epstein’s network.
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In response to the DOJ’s memo, Musk shared a meme of a clown applying makeup with the caption, “There is no Epstein list,” highlighting his criticism of official narratives. Conspiracy theorist Alex Jones joined the backlash, sarcastically commenting, “Next, the DOJ will say ‘Actually, Jeffrey Epstein never even existed.’”
Musk once posted—without providing evidence—that Trump was named in unreleased Epstein documents. The post was later deleted, and Musk admitted he had “gone too far.”
They arrested (and killed) Peanut, but have not even tried to file charges against anyone on the Epstein client list.
Government is deeply broken. pic.twitter.com/YndRadQUBE
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) July 8, 2025
Trump-Musk Ties Deteriorate Further Amid Third Party Spat
The latest spat adds to the growing political distance between the two once-aligned figures. Their relationship began deteriorating after Musk openly opposed Trump’s “tax and spending mega-bill.” Since then, Musk has distanced himself by founding the America Party, which he says is aimed at reforming America’s political landscape.
Trump dismissed Musk’s third-party efforts, saying, “Third parties have never worked… So he can have fun with it, but I think it’s ridiculous.” He further lashed out, calling Musk a “TRAIN WRECK” who had “gone off the rails.”
As Musk doubles down on his promise to make Epstein file disclosure a political priority, the feud signals a deeper clash between two of America’s most controversial public figures—one political, the other corporate-turned-political.