FBI Director Kash Patel reacted live on Joe Rogan’s podcast to Elon Musk feuding with President Donald Trump as the tech CEO accused him of being in the Jeffrey Epstein files.
Patel received an order from Attorney General Pam Bondi months ago to release the files, but he has delayed because he said the FBI needs more time to retract victims’ likenesses.
“I’m not participating in any of that conversation, it’s an Elon issue,” Patel said as Rogan pointed out Musk’s posts about Trump and Epstein.
“Jesus Christ, that’s a crazy thing to say,” Rogan said. “How does he know? Does he know that Donald Trump is in the Epstein files? Does he have access to the Epstein Files?”
“I don’t know how he would,” Patel said of Musk, “but I’m just staying out of the Trump-Elon thing. That’s way out of my lane. … I know my lane — and that ain’t it.”
Wow. Elon Musk’s tweet about Trump being in the Epstein Files was posted while Joe Rogan was interviewing Kash Patel. Patel was clearly caught off guard.
Rogan: Jesus Christ.
Patel: I’m not participating in any of that conversation.
Rogan: Jesus Christ, that’s a crazy thing to… pic.twitter.com/K3RX3wivMw
— MeidasTouch (@MeidasTouch) June 6, 2025
Musk accused Trump of being in the Epstein files on Thursday.
“Time to drop the really big bomb: @realDonaldTrump is in the Epstein files,” Musk posted on X. “That is the real reason they have not been made public. Have a nice day, DJT!”
“Mark this post for the future,” he added. “The truth will come out.”
Patel did not comment further on the feud, which erupted as Musk opposed the government spending in Trump’s “big, beautiful bill.”
The FBI director did say he’s “working my a** off along with the leadership at the bureau and DOJ” to get the video of Epstein dying by suicide. Even before he was nominated to lead the FBI, Patel said he believed Epstein died by suicide. Patel said “there’s no way” an operation to kill Epstein was carried out, and he also rejected that the cameras in the area were down, as Rogan alleged.
He also hit on “Russiagate,” calling it a “coordinated conspiracy to take down your political opponent by weaponizing government,” accusing the media of colluding with the government to take down Trump.
Former Justice Department special counsel Robert Mueller’s report found no collusion by Trump with Russia, and an investigation into the FBI’s Russia inquiry found flaws with it.
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Patel also said on the podcast that he was “swatted” recently.
“I’m not just going to bring a case because somebody hurt me,” he said. “They did. And they continue to do it. S***, my house just got swatted yesterday.”