FBI Director Kash Patel was thrust into the center of a social media firestorm on Thursday when Elon Musk made a bombshell claim — that Donald Trump is named in the sealed Jeffrey Epstein files. The revelation came just as Patel was in the middle of an interview on The Joe Rogan Experience podcast.
Patel, who was deep into discussing surveillance footage related to Epstein’s jail cell death, was blindsided when Rogan read Musk’s tweet: “Time to drop the really big bomb: @realDonaldTrump is in the Epstein files. That is the real reason they have not been made public. Have a nice day, DJT!”
Rogan, clearly stunned, said, “Jesus Christ That’s a crazy thing to say on social media.”
“I’m not participating in any of that conversation between Elon and Trump,” Patel said, distancing himself from the bombshell accusation. “That’s way outside my lane,” he added, brushing off the moment. “I know my line and that ain’t it.”
As Rogan questioned the veracity of Musk’s claim, asking whether Musk had access to the Epstein files, Patel replied, “I don’t know how he would, but I’m just staying out of the Trump-Elon thing.”
Rogan criticized Musk’s behavior on X, calling his online posting habit unhealthy: “I understand he owns Twitter, but I think it’s bad for your mental health posting and arguing all day is not good for you.”
Patel didn’t engage directly with Rogan’s critique of Musk but used the moment to pivot back to his core concern, how the FBI is dealing with online disinformation.
Donald Trump and Elon Musk have had a relationship that has shifted from cooperation to open tension. While Musk once served as an advisor during Trump’s presidency, their alliance fractured over issues like climate policy and political endorsement.
In recent years, Trump has publicly mocked Musk, calling him a “bullshit artist,” while Musk has urged Trump to step aside from politics, saying he should “sail into the sunset.”
Though both remain influential on the right, Musk has distanced himself from Trump-style politics, and his recent bombshell tweet tying Trump to the sealed Epstein files marks a sharp escalation in their feud.
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