--- title: "Elon Musk Apologizes for Accurately Pointing Out That Trump Was Extremely Close Friends With Jeffrey Epstein" description: "Billionaire Elon Musk appears to have some major regrets about losing his composure during a major escalation of his feud with Trump." date: "2025-06-11" modified: "2025-06-11" authors: - name: "Victor Tangermann" job_title: "Senior Editor" link: "https://futurism.com/authors/victor" url: "https://futurism.com/elon-musk-apologizes-trump-friends-jeffrey-epstein" categories: - "Elon Musk" - "Future Society" - "The Industrialists" tags: - "donald trump" - "elon musk" - "jeffrey epstein" --- # Elon Musk Apologizes for Accurately Pointing Out That Trump Was Extremely Close Friends With Jeffrey Epstein ![Billionaire Elon Musk appears to have some major regrets about losing his composure during a major escalation of his feud with Trump.]() *\Image: Thomas Concordia / Getty\* Billionaire Elon Musk appears to have some major regrets about losing his composure during his [blowout verbal brawl]() with former bestie president Donald Trump last week. Musk and Trump [have been at each other's throats]() for well over a week. Their on-and-off-again bromance collapsed in spectacular fashion when Musk excoriated Trump's so-called "big, beautiful bill" as a "[disgusting abomination]()," torching any goodwill from the Republican party in the process. Trump shot back almost immediately, [threatening]() to revoke all of Musk's government contracts, actions that likely would've cost the mercurial CEO dearly. During his meltdown, Musk also dropped what he called a "really big bomb," [claiming]() in a [since-deleted tweet]() that Trump is in the "Epstein files," referring to deceased pedophile sex criminal Jeffrey Epstein, arguing that's the "real reason they have not been made public." Days later, the dust is seemingly beginning to settle. In a [groveling tweet]() posted in the early morning hours of Wednesday, Musk said that "I regret some of my posts" about Trump last week. "They went too far," a cowering Musk confessed. It's a notable attempt to save face, highlighting just how much power Trump holds over even the richest man in the world. However, which exact claims Musk is reneging on remains murky. Is he apologizing for correctly pointing out that Trump once had a long and close relationship with Epstein? A [wealth of evidence]() suggests the president did indeed spend a lot of time with the late sex trafficker. In fact, Musk's claim that Trump is in the "Epstein files" — heavily redacted excerpts of which were [made public in early 2024]() — is true, though Trump wasn't accused of wrongdoing in the documents. Numerous photos show Trump and Epstein hanging out back in the day, and in an [eyebrow-raising 2002 quote](), Trump even said that Epstein "likes beautiful women as much as I do, and many of them are on the younger side." Musk's uncharacteristic capitulation suggests Trump's threat of revoking billions of dollars worth of government contracts, which have [propped up his businesses for decades](), holds substantial sway over him. Following his [purported departure]() from the world of politics last month, Musk claimed he would refocus his efforts on his businesses, including Tesla and SpaceX. His EV maker, in particular, has seen [plummeting sales]() due to his embrace of far-right ideologies, actions that have greatly tarnished the brand. Musk's space company SpaceX is also [facing major headwinds]() in developing its Mars-bound Starship rocket. A major loss in government funding could easily make matters far worse. Are Musk's latest comments a sign of actual regret — or is the entrepreneur simply looking out for his own bottom line? Given the drama we've seen unfold over the past few weeks, his relationship with Trump was likely never on particularly solid ground to begin with. Musk's businesses, however, seem to be safe for now. Press secretary Karoline Leavitt [told reporters]() on Wednesday afternoon that "no efforts have been made" to review Musk's government contracts. Trump, for his part, seems ready to bury the hatchet with his former number one ally. "I think he feels very badly that he said that," the president [told the *New York Post*](), referring to Musk's mea culpa. Mere days ago, Trump [sang a very different tune](). In an [interview with *NBC News*]() over the week, he warned that Musk would "pay very serious consequences" if he were to jump ship and start funding Democrats. **More on Trump and Epstein:** *[Elon Musk Melts Down, Claims Trump Is In The "Epstein Files" and That's the Reason They Haven't Been Released]()* ## Author I've been at Futurism since 2017, where my role has evolved to encompass design, writing, and increasingly editing. I've always been fascinated by space exploration and advanced transportation, which I've leaned into by interviewing luminaries in those fields while closely following the dimensions of policy and regulation that allow next-generation projects to succeed -- or, sometimes, to fail. I'm also keenly interested in the effects of generative AI on society, policies, and democratic institutions, as well as clean energy, physics and biology, and the vagaries of tech leadership. My work for Futurism has been cited by publications including Ars Technica, Gizmodo, PC Magazine, Jalopnik, Fox News, and the New York Post. I spent my childhood living in locations including Manila, the Philippines, and Geneva, Switzerland, attended McGill University, and now live in Toronto, Canada. Before Futurism I worked at AskMen and a small photography studio. In my free time, I'm an avid gardener, foodie, and craft beer lover, as well as a maker of artisanal hot pepper sauces. I have a magnificent dog named Freida. ### Author social links [Bluesky]()