Elon Musk has escalated his ongoing feud with allies of former President Donald Trump by claiming that Steve Bannon, a top Trump advisor, appears on Jeffrey Epstein’s client list. Musk made the unsubstantiated accusation in a post on X (formerly Twitter) Tuesday but provided no proof to support it.
The post comes amid mounting speculation about the contents of the long-sealed Epstein files and follows Attorney General Pam Bondi’s controversial announcement that no additional names from Epstein’s list will be released—despite earlier promises to the contrary.
Musk vs. Bannon: A Personal and Political Clash
Musk’s latest remarks are part of a long-running clash between him and Bannon. The feud reignited after Bannon criticized Musk on his War Room podcast, dismissing Musk’s idea of launching a new political party and saying, “Only a foreigner could do this,” adding that Musk should be deported.
Musk fired back, calling Bannon a “fat, drunken slob” and predicting, “He’ll go back to prison, and this time for a long time.”
Musk’s explosive Epstein-related claim against Bannon has added fresh fuel to speculation that high-profile Trump allies may be shielded by the Justice Department. Some critics believe AG Bondi’s refusal to release more names may be aimed at protecting individuals close to the former president.
Epstein Files, Trump Cabinet, and Media Scrutiny
Musk’s post comes at a tense moment for the Trump administration. During a Cabinet meeting on Tuesday, a reporter asked Attorney General Bondi about the Epstein list, pressing her on why the release was halted. President Trump quickly shut the line of questioning down.
“Are you still talking about Jeffrey Epstein? This guy’s been talked about for years,” Trump snapped. “At a time like this—when we’re dealing with tragedy in Texas and great accomplishments elsewhere—it just seems like a desecration.”
The exchange comes after weeks of conflicting messages from officials about whether a full Epstein client list even exists. Former Trump aide Kash Patel, once a vocal critic of Epstein cover-ups, recently reversed course, insisting “there is no list”—a dramatic shift that only intensified public mistrust.
No Evidence, Rising Tensions
Musk has not offered any documentation or official source to back up his Bannon-Epstein claim, and as of now, no known connection between Bannon and Epstein has been confirmed. Still, the post adds to Musk’s increasingly combative tone toward prominent Trump-world figures as political tensions rise ahead of the 2026 midterms.
