Elon Musk reopened his battle with U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday directly defying the administration in the Jeffrey Epstein case and stating that his new “America Party” will make making the release of the highly desired Epstein files a top priority. The tech mogul’s recent broadside ran hot on July 8 and 9, 2025, as he went public with accusing Trump of lack of integrity and alleging that the government was covering up individuals linked to the late sex offender.
A test of Presidential integrity
Musk, once a vocal Trump supporter and large donor, has since fallen out of favor with the President over policy differences, most notably Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill”. Now, Musk is using the Epstein scandal for political gain, tweeting on X: “How are people supposed to believe in Trump if he won’t make the Epstein files public?”
When questioned by an X user if releasing the Epstein files would be a priority of his newly proposed America Party, Musk answered in the affirmative with a “100” emoji, meaning it was his number one priority as detailed with this article, Gloves off: Musk and Trump engage in a brutal war of words as their beautiful relationship falls apart. This public declaration is a strategic step by Musk to distinguish his political agenda and secure the loyalty of some portion of the public, including some MAGA enthusiasts, who have long been requesting transparency about the Epstein network.
The Government’s unreleased client list and accusations
The central target of Musk’s complaints is the perceived lack of accountability and continued cover-up nature of the Epstein scandal. He has time and again pointed out that, as much press as the crimes have received, “More squirrels and raccoons have been arrested than anyone on Epstein’s client list,” satirizing the lack of making arrests. Musk has also continued to post an “Official Jeffrey Epstein Pedophile Arrest Counter” displaying “0 0 0 0” to drive this point home.
Musk has gone further again, condemning the government as “deeply broken” and implying it is actually covering up criminals. This follows despite U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi recently stating the U.S. would not be publishing an Epstein client list, insisting none exists. This official position has been questioned by many sources, including some conservative supporters who had previously anticipated the Trump administration publishing these records.
A series of retractions and escalations
This isn’t the first time Musk has connected Trump with the Epstein files. Musk went and said outright in June 2025 that “Trump is in the Epstein files,” suggesting this was the “actual reason they have not been released.” Musk later retracted that “bombshell accusation,” saying he “went too far” and scrubbing the posts. He had also already tweeted that he would be apologizing to Trump “as soon as there is a full dump of the Epstein files,” another now deleted tweet.
However, Musk’s newfound interest lately in the Epstein case adds to the recent spate of feuding between him and Trump. The strain was caused when Musk resigned from his role as head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) in May 2025 and became a vocal critic of Trump’s economic agenda, especially the “One Big Beautiful Bill,” to which Musk applied the label of “utterly insane and destructive.” Trump has retaliated by rejecting Musk’s criticisms and promising to cancel federal contracts with Musk businesses.
The America Party’s promise
Musk’s own “America Party” was a month ago when he inquired of his X followers whether it was “time to form a new political party in America that actually represents the 80% in the middle.” He then went on to seal his stamp of approval on “America Party,” a nod to the America PAC he established last year, which went big on behalf of Trump and other Republicans in the 2024 elections.
By making public the release of the Epstein files a pillar of his new America Party agenda, Musk is surging on a years-long public outcry for accountability on the infamous sex trafficking scandal. The play could make the America Party a focal point for accountability, and support from disillusioned members of both parties could be the next thing.
As politics shifts, Musk’s direct battle with President Trump over the Epstein files portends a growing battle with potentially deep effects on American political life in the coming years and the ongoing pursuit of truth in one of America’s most infamous criminal cases.
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