Donald Trump Reacts to Elon Musk, Howard Lutnick Being in Epstein Files – Newsweek
Published
Feb 03, 2026 at 05:26 PM EST
updated
Feb 03, 2026 at 09:01 PM EST
President Donald Trump was asked Tuesday about his Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick—and billionaire Elon Musk—being mentioned in the latest Jeffrey Epstein files released by the Department of Justice (DOJ).
As part of a testy exchange with CNN‘s Kaitlan Collins, Trump was asked if he read the files that included mentions of Lutnick and Musk. The president responded in part, “No. I have a lot of things I’m doing. I don’t know. You mentioned two names. I’m sure they’re fine.” Trump later added, “I think it’s really time for the country to get on to something else.”
Newsweek reached out to the DOJ via online form Tuesday evening for comment.
The DOJ released more than 3 million pages of Epstein-related records, along with thousands of videos and photos, shedding new light on communications between the sex offender and prominent figures while reviving scrutiny of associates named in the files.
Musk and Lutnick’s appearance in the cache added political sensitivity due to their public profiles and Lutnick’s role in Trump’s administration—along with Musk’s former stint as head of the Department of Government Efficiency—while lawmakers pressed the DOJ to explain why additional documents are still unreleased.
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“Now that nothing came out about me, other than it was a conspiracy against me, literally by Epstein and other people. But I think it’s time now for the country to maybe get on to something else, like health care or something that people care about,” Trump added.
Emails in the tranche show Epstein allegedly communicating with Musk in 2012 and 2013 about possible visits to Epstein’s Caribbean Island and holiday gatherings, including Musk’s line, “What day/night will be the wildest party on =our island?”
Additional documents indicate Epstein also discussed island visits with Lutnick’s family in late 2012 and that a follow-up message said, “Nice seeing you,” Reuters reports.
According to The New York Times when asked about appearing in the files, Lutnick said, “I spent zero time with him.” He then hung up after saying that he could not comment about allegedly visiting the island because he had not reviewed the documents.
Musk, Trump and Lutnick have not been accused of wrongdoing.
Democratic Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York, on X over the weekend: “Even with everything in this Epstein drop, remember: this is a minority of the files. This is STILL just what they were *willing* to release – in violation of the law, which requires release of all files. Pam Bondi’s DOJ is still hiding most of them. We need them all.”
Rapid Response 47, on X over the weekend: “@DAGToddBlanche: ‘Apparently [Republican U.S. Representative Thomas] Massie and others wrote a letter to come and review un-redacted materials. I didn’t get that letter yet; they leaked it to the press before they actually sent it to me. But yeah, that’s absolutely, totally fine. We have nothing to hide.'”
Musk, on X over the weekend: “Nobody has fought harder for full release of the Epstein files and prosecutions of those who abused children more than I did, knowing full well that the legacy media, far-left propagandists and those who are actually guilty would: 1. Admit nothing 2. Deny everything 3. Make counter-accusations against me I knew that I would be smeared relentlessly, despite never having attended his parties or been on his ‘Lolita Express’ plane or set foot on his creepy island or done anything wrong at all.
“Nonetheless, the extreme pain of being accused of being the opposite of who I am was worth it. The strong must protect those cannot protect themselves, especially vulnerable children. I will gladly accept any amount of future pain to do more to protect kids and give them a chance to grow up and have happy lives.”
A CNN spokesperson to Newsweek via email on Tuesday night: “Kaitlan Collins is an exceptional journalist, reporting every day from the White House and the field with real depth and tenacity. She skillfully brings that reporting to the anchor chair and CNN platforms every day, which audiences around the world know they can trust.”
As lawmakers continue pushing the DOJ to release additional documents, public scrutiny is expected to continue.
Update 2/3/26, 8:58 p.m. ET: This article has been updated with comment from CNN.
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