Musk Denies Epstein Association, Claims Media Smear Campaign Amid Email Revelations
(AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)
In a fiery social media post on Sunday, Elon Musk lashed out at what he termed "far-left propagandists" and mainstream media outlets for highlighting his past email exchanges with Jeffrey Epstein. The release of a new batch of court documents related to the disgraced financier has reignited scrutiny of the billionaire's associations.
The Tesla and SpaceX CEO took to his platform, X, to defend his record, stating that "no one has fought harder" for the full disclosure of Epstein-related files and for prosecuting those involved in child abuse. He framed the criticism as a predictable smear tactic by his adversaries.
"I anticipated this pattern: admit nothing, deny everything, make counter-accusations," Musk wrote. "I knew relentless smears would follow, despite never attending his parties, boarding his plane, visiting his island, or doing anything improper."
He added, "The extreme pain of being falsely accused is a price I'm willing to pay. The strong must protect the vulnerable, especially children. I'll accept any future pain to help protect kids and give them a chance at a happy life."
The newly public emails include a 2012 message from Musk to Epstein asking, "what day/night will be the wildest party on =our island?"—a phrasing Musk now attributes to a misguided attempt at humor. A 2013 exchange shows Epstein inviting Musk to a New York gathering during the UN General Assembly, which Musk declined, citing his workload at SpaceX and Tesla as an "unwise" use of time.
On Saturday, Musk clarified on X that he initially misunderstood Epstein's 2013 invitation, thinking it involved UN diplomats. He claims he declined even after Epstein mentioned the presence of women in their twenties, choosing instead to focus on his companies.
The rebuttal came after journalists, including Zeteo's Prem Thakker, noted a discrepancy between Musk's past claim of having "REFUSED" to go to Epstein's island and the newly revealed emails.
Background & Analysis: Musk's relationship with Epstein has been a point of contention, particularly given his past criticism of figures like Donald Trump over the Epstein case. Musk accused Trump in 2025 of suppressing the files, leading to a brief rift. The two have since reconciled, with Musk recently attending a high-profile Republican wedding and committing significant funds to GOP campaigns. This episode highlights the ongoing political and media battles surrounding the Epstein saga, where any association, however tangential, triggers intense scrutiny and reputational risk.
Reactions & Commentary:
"This is a classic deflection playbook," says Marcus Chen, a political risk analyst at The Veritas Group. "The emails raise legitimate questions about judgment and past associations, regardless of the legal culpability. Musk's pivot to victim advocacy feels strategically timed."
"The media's obsession with ten-year-old emails while ignoring Musk's actual advocacy for releasing these files is disgracefully biased," argues Dr. Rebecca Vance, a tech ethics professor at Stanford. "It undermines genuine efforts for transparency and justice."
"Are we seriously supposed to believe the 'wildest party' email was just a joke?" fires back Leo Sandoval, an investigative journalist and frequent critic. "This isn't a smear; it's accountability. His donations to the same political circles that protected Epstein for years tell the real story."
"The nuance is lost," observes Anya Petrova, a PR crisis consultant. "For the public, 'email exchange with Epstein' equals guilt by association. Musk's emotional response, while understandable to his supporters, may not convince the skeptical wider audience."