President Donald Trump was asked about the Jeffrey Epstein files this week, specifically about mentions of his Commerce Secretary, Howard Lutnick, and Elon Musk. During a tense exchange with journalists, Trump said he had not read the documents about Lutnick and Musk because he has “a lot of things I’m doing.” He quickly dismissed concerns about the two men, saying, “You mentioned two names. I’m sure they’re fine.”
According to Newsweek, Trump suggested the country should move on to more important issues. He said he thinks “it’s really time for the country to get on to something else,” like healthcare. The Department of Justice released more than three million pages of Epstein-related records, including thousands of videos and photos.
The documents show communications between the convicted sex offender and several well-known people. Since Lutnick works in the current administration and Musk is a major public figure, their names in the files created immediate political concerns.
The Epstein files reveal troubling details about prominent figures
The files include emails from 2012 and 2013 where Epstein and Musk allegedly discussed possible visits, including holiday gatherings and trips to Epstein’s Caribbean island. One message reportedly shows Musk asking, “What day/night will be the wildest party on our island?”
Musk defended himself over the weekend, saying he has fought harder than anyone for the full release of these files and prosecution of child abusers. He said he knew he would be attacked, despite never attending any of Epstein’s parties or being on his plane or island.
Musk said he has never “done anything wrong at all.” He stated that the “extreme pain” of being falsely accused was worth it to protect vulnerable children. The controversy has sparked heated exchanges with other tech figures over Epstein connections.
Documents show that Epstein also discussed island visits with Lutnick’s family in late 2012, followed by a message saying, “Nice seeing you.” When asked about this, Lutnick denied any involvement, stating, “I spent zero time with him.” He reportedly ended the call shortly after, saying he couldn’t comment without reviewing the documents himself.
Neither Musk, Lutnick, nor President Trump have been accused of any wrongdoing related to the Epstein case. However, the political pressure is growing. Lawmakers are demanding the Department of Justice explain why they haven’t released all the files.
Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez said over the weekend that the public has only seen a “minority of the files,” adding that the DOJ “is still hiding most of them. We need them all.” Meanwhile, Musk continues expanding his business empire with SpaceX’s recent acquisition of xAI for space-based AI development.
The Department of Justice responded to requests for un-redacted materials by saying, “We have nothing to hide.” The pressure will continue as long as these documents remain partially hidden. The release of thousands of videos and photos alongside millions of pages of records has brought back difficult questions about Epstein’s activities and connections.
Published: Feb 4, 2026 04:45 pm