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Fact-Checking Trump-Musk Feud

Fact-Checking Trump-Musk Feud

Tensions came to an explosive head online between the former allies yesterday

Izz LaMagdeleine
June 06, 2025

Yesterday, President Donald Trump and Elon Musk got into an intense, public social media feud. Musk posted on his social media platform, X, that Trump appeared in government files related to deceased convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and that’s why they remain unreleased, while Trump suggested on his own social media platform, Truth Social, that canceling Musk’s government contracts is the “easiest” way to save money in the federal budget.

Snopes is working on fact-checking claims that have spread about the feud, such as a rumor featuring Ye (formerly Kanye West), Musk calling for Trump to be impeached and various claims about Epstein and Trump’s supposed friendship. Please use our contact form if you would like to get in touch with a claim you think we should look into.

Two white men shake hands. The one on the left is wearing all black and standing up, while the one on the right wears a dark blue suit and is sitting down behind a desk.

Yes, Musk alleged Trump appears in the Epstein files

In X posts, Musk alleged Trump's purported inclusion in the convicted sex offender's files was why they remained unreleased.

Two white men stand with their backs to the camera looking at another white man who is speaking. The one on the left appears to be wearing a black coat, while the two on the right are wearing dark blue suits.

Yes, Musk shared post calling for Trump's impeachment

A post from conservative influencer Ian Miles Cheong defended the tech billionaire during an internet feud with the president.

Two white men hug on stage. A crowd of people can be seen in the background.

Musk said 'Trump would have lost the election' without him

Musk took credit for Republicans winning the presidency and both chambers of Congress.

A white man wearing all black is pictured next to a Truth Social post attributed to Donald Trump. It says, "The easiest way to save money in our Budget, Billions and Billions of Dollars, is to terminate Elon's Governmental Subsidies and Contracts. I was always surprised that Biden didn't do it!"

Trump posted 'easiest' way to save money in the federal budget is to cancel Musk's government contracts

Canceling Musk's "Subsidies and Contracts" would save "Billions and Billions of Dollars," according to Trump.

A white man wearing all black stands with his arms crossed. He appears to be making a face, with his eyes looking towards the top of the room.

Musk posted X poll asking if it's time for 3rd US political party

Within hours of posting the poll, it garnered more than 1.3 million votes, with 82.3% responding “Yes.”

A white man and Black man sit across a desk from each other. A crowd of people can be seen behind them, most looking at them. The Black man appears to be speaking.

Ye asked Musk and Trump to settle their social media feud?

Ye, formerly Kanye West, posted less than 30 minutes after Musk claimed Trump was named in documents related to Epstein.

A photo of two white men smiling is shown next to a X post that says, "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!"

Real 1997 photo of Trump and Epstein together thrown into new light by X post from Musk

Nearly 30 years later, Musk claimed Trump was "in the Epstein files" and that explained why they "have not been made public."

A white man wearing a blue suit, a white woman wearing a black outfit, a white man wearing what appears to be a white shirt and a white woman wearing a blue crop top all pose for a photo together. Various people can be seen in the background.

Trump once calling Epstein 'fun' and 'terrific guy' resurfaced during feud with Musk

The then-future U.S. president added, of the "beautiful women" in Epstein's social life, "… many of them are on the younger side."

Image shows Donald Trump's name and redacted contact information listed in convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein's "black book"

Trump mention in Epstein's 'black book' resurfaced during Musk spat. Here's the context

Epstein was fodder for an online feud between the U.S. president and the billionaire Musk.

A white man with white hair and a beard looks at the camera.

Musk accused Trump of being in Epstein's files. Here are 19 rumors we've looked into about the disgraced financier

In the wake of Musk's claim that Trump appears in Epstein's files, we looked back on years of rumors about the high-profile sex offender.