House Republicans lashed out at Elon Musk after the tech billionaire claimed that President Donald Trump appears in the secret Jeffrey Epstein files.
“Hopefully we never have to answer questions about tweets like that from Elon again,” said Rep. Pat Fallon, R-Texas, who dismissed Musk’s statement as “not helpful.”
Musk made the controversial assertion on Thursday during a tirade against Trump and House Republicans over their proposed budget reconciliation bill, dubbed “One Big Beautiful Bill.”
“Time to drop the really big bomb. [Trump] is in the Epstein files. That is the real reason they have not been made public. Have a nice day, DJT!” Musk posted on X, formerly Twitter. “Mark this post for the future. The truth will come out.”
Rep. Troy Nehls, R-Texas, said Musk’s remarks were uncalled for:
“There’s just no need for this. Those conversations should be taking place behind closed doors.”
Several GOP lawmakers dismissed the idea that Trump is implicated in the Epstein scandal, arguing any connection would have surfaced during the 2020 or 2024 elections.
“If Joe Biden had Donald Trump in the Epstein logs, there’s no question it would have come out during the campaign,” said Rep. Randy Fine, R-Fla. “So, I don’t know what’s prompting it. I think it’s all unfortunate.”
Rep. Tim Burchett, R-Tenn., went further, questioning Musk’s credibility by pointing out that he allowed his young son, nicknamed “X,” to spend time around Trump.
“Why would he let his kid hang out with the president if that was true? That just doesn’t make any sense. And now he’s calling for his impeachment. I mean, it’s just going off to the deep end,” Burchett said.
Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, R-Fla., who is leading a task force to declassify Epstein-related federal investigations, said she does not believe Musk’s assertion.
“Speaking to Jeffrey Epstein, I will be very specific that I do believe that if President Trump was in the Epstein files, they would have released it during the primary, and they didn’t,” Luna stated. “So, the fact is, is that I do not believe that President Trump is in the Epstein files, the way that it’s being implied, but either which way, this is why we continue to push for transparency.”
While most Republicans rejected Musk’s claim, Rep. Ralph Norman, R-S.C., stood apart by supporting full public access to the Epstein documents.
“Facts will bear out whatever they will,” Norman said. “The Epstein files are bound to come out, and let it come out. We ought to see it. America has a right to know, just like they do with the John F. Kennedy files, the Bobby Kennedy files.”
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt responded by attributing Musk’s outrage to dissatisfaction with Trump’s economic agenda.
“This is an unfortunate episode from Elon, who is unhappy with the One Big Beautiful Bill because it does not include the policies he wanted,” Leavitt said. “The President is focused on passing this historic piece of legislation and making our country great again.”
Sen. Pete Ricketts, R-Neb., sidestepped speculation about Musk’s motives, telling Fox News Digital, “I could not tell you what Elon Musk’s motivations are, but I can tell you what we’re going to do, which is avoid a $4 trillion tax increase on the American people.”
Though Trump and Epstein were known to be acquaintances, a source familiar with the matter pointed out that Trump permanently banned Epstein from Mar-a-Lago after he reportedly hit on a teenage daughter of another club member.
The incident was recounted in the book The Grifter’s Club, and cited by Trump allies as evidence of his opposition to Epstein’s behavior.
With input from Fox News
