Elon Musk just lobbed a grenade at President Trump, and House Republicans aren’t amused. On June 5, 2025, the tech titan claimed on X that Trump’s name lurks in the Jeffrey Epstein files, igniting a firestorm among GOP lawmakers who called the accusation baseless.
Fox News reported that Musk’s bombshell, and likely slanderous claim, came amid his criticism of Trump and GOP leaders over a budget reconciliation bill, which he slammed for ballooning the national debt, clocked at $36,214,501,400,213.64 that day.
The bill, dubbed Trump’s “big, beautiful bill,” aims to deliver tax relief for working- and middle-class Americans. House Republicans, from Rep. Pat Fallon to Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, rallied to Trump’s defense, dismissing Musk’s claim as reckless.
“Time to drop the really big bomb,” Musk posted, alleging Trump’s Epstein ties are why the files remain sealed. GOP lawmakers fired back, arguing that if damning evidence existed, the Biden administration would have weaponized it during Trump’s campaign. Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, didn’t mince words: “Elon crossed the line today.”
Rep. Troy Nehls, R-Texas, called Musk’s public jab unnecessary, urging such talks be kept private. “Those conversations should be behind closed doors,” Nehls said. The sentiment echoes a broader GOP frustration: Musk’s tweet was a distraction from their legislative push.
Rep. Randy Fine, R-Fla., pointed out the obvious: “If Joe Biden had Donald Trump in the Epstein logs, it would have come out.”
Democrats, Fine argued, would’ve leaped at the chance to smear Trump. Yet, no such revelation surfaced, casting doubt on Musk’s claim.
Rep. Tim Burchett, R-Tenn., took it further, questioning Musk’s logic. “Why would he let his kid hang out with the president if that was true?” Burchett asked, referencing Musk’s past chumminess with Trump. It’s a zinger that highlights the inconsistency in Musk’s sudden attack.
Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, R-Fla., who leads a task force on declassifying federal investigations, including Epstein’s, weighed in. “If President Trump was in the Epstein files, they would have released it during the primary,” she said. Luna’s push for transparency aims to settle such speculation once and for all.
“So, the fact is, I do not believe that President Trump is in the Epstein files, the way that it’s being implied,” Luna added.
Her task force’s work could soon clarify what’s fact and what’s Musk’s conjecture. Until then, she’s calling for calm, not chaos.
Rep. Ralph Norman, R-S.C., took a broader view, insisting the Epstein files should be public. “America has a right to know,” he said, comparing it to the Kennedy assassination files. Norman’s stance is clear: let the truth, whatever it is, see daylight.
A source familiar with the matter noted that the Trump administration previously released Epstein files that included Trump’s name.
“This is not a new surprise Elon is uncovering,” the source said, suggesting Musk’s claim lacks fresh evidence. It’s a point that undercuts the tech mogul’s dramatic post.
The same source questioned Musk’s motives, pointing to his past praise for Trump. “If Elon truly thought the President was more deeply involved with Epstein, why did he hang out with him for six months?” they asked. It’s a fair question, and Musk hasn’t answered it.
Trump’s history with Epstein adds context. He banned the disgraced financier from Mar-a-Lago after Epstein made inappropriate advances toward a club member’s teenage daughter, as detailed in “The Grifter’s Club.” That decisive action doesn’t scream complicity.
While Musk’s tweet stole headlines, the budget reconciliation bill remains the real story. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt defended it, saying Trump is focused on “making our country great again.” Musk’s Epstein jab, she implied, is just noise.
