"He repeatedly mentioned the Epstein files, only to eventually try to silence everyone. All they need to do is release the documents as promised."
Elon Musk's post again hits Trump where it hurts
Billionaire Elon Musk left this comment on the social platform X, once again causing a stir. This was not just an ordinary complaint, but a direct question to Trump's most critical weakness.
Musk's comments came at a sensitive moment: The Trump administration had just announced through Attorney General Pam Bondi that "there is no such thing as a client list," and firmly maintained that Epstein's death was still classified as suicide. This conclusion sharply contrasted with Trump's repeated promises during his campaign to "release the files and reveal the truth," leading to a large-scale split among his loyal supporters for the first time.
Trump chooses to defend Attorney General Bondi
Musk is not an outsider who just watches from the sidelines. During last year's election, he frequently interacted with Trump in public, jointly criticizing corruption within the system. Now, with just a few sentences, he has broken his silence, putting the political system that Trump relies on to face a real test.
The Loss of Truth: Files and the Collapse of Hope
To understand the impact of Musk's questioning, we must go back to Trump's original promise: He not only wanted to make America great again, but also to "drain the swamp" and expose the dark side hidden behind the power network. And the Epstein case was seen as the symbol of that darkness.
Epstein, a financier with connections to Wall Street, Hollywood, and the political circle, was arrested for involving in a large-scale sexual abuse scandal involving underage girls. In 2019, he died in prison, officially ruled as a suicide. However, details like surveillance blind spots and guard negligence led people to suspect that this was a murder to cover up the truth. Afterward, the "client list" became the core of conspiracy theories and public doubts: Who were Epstein's "friends" and "clients"? Who participated in systematic abuse and sex trafficking?
Trump was once a guest of Epstein
Trump often hinted that he had "documents," "lists," even "videos," and promised to reveal the truth. However, when Attorney General Bondi suddenly announced that the list did not exist, the previously enthusiastic supporters tasted the bitterness of disillusionment for the first time. More critically, instead of blaming the Department of Justice for delaying or concealing information, Trump wrote on "Truth Social": "Bondi did a great job," "Don't waste time talking about Epstein, a person no one cares about."
In the comments section, supporters of Trump rarely agreed with his statement: "This issue made you lose many supporters." "If you don't release the list, you are no different from the swamp." "We don't want excuses anymore, we just want the truth!" For Trump, this was a deeper crisis of trust.
Internal Cracks: Shaken Loyalty and Political Divisions
What shocked even more was that this storm did not remain just online; this conclusion also caused clear cracks within the Trump administration.
FBI Threatens to Resign
Dan Coats, the Deputy Director of the FBI, who had been Trump's strongest defender in the media, considered resigning due to Bondi's handling. Director Kash Patel also stated that if Bondi remained, he might also leave. A source from the Department of Justice said, "I think if Bondi doesn't step down, Dan (Coats) won't stay."
For Trump, this was not just a simple personnel issue, but the first time his core team showed a split over the same problem. And the core of the problem was: Where is the list that Trump promised? Why is he no longer insisting on revealing the truth?
Trump tried to calm the storm with familiar rhetoric. He accused the files of being fake documents created by political enemies such as Obama, Hillary Clinton, James Comey, and John Brennan, saying, "If there was something that could harm me, why didn't they release it earlier?" He also tried to attribute Epstein's death to a Democratic conspiracy.
However, this time, even the most loyal fans were no longer satisfied with conspiracy theories. What they wanted was the truth that Trump himself had promised: Who were the clients? Who participated in the abuse? Who should be prosecuted?
Moral Collapse and the Loss of Truth
The Epstein list was not just a piece of paper, but an invisible contract between Trump and his supporters. Not long ago, Trump was the one who mocked the media, raged against Washington, and claimed to expose the crimes of elites. His image was that of a "anti-establishment hero," a fighter who would risk everything to speak the truth.
Trump once cried out as an anti-establishment figure
Now, he has become the one who tells people to forget the truth. Musk's questioning stings because it shatters Trump's last barrier. If the truth really exists, yet is hidden due to political interests, then what difference does Trump make from any traditional politician? If even he cannot fulfill his promise, how can the MAGA movement continue?
When Trump said, "Don't waste time talking about Epstein, a person no one cares about," even the most steadfast believers felt shaken. This was a rare moment in Trump's political career: part of his core supporters publicly said "no," demanding him to fulfill the promises he made years ago.
The Truth Still Lies in the Shadows
Epstein is still dead in prison, and the truth remains buried. Countless voices of victims still echo faintly in the gaps of the files. Trump lost the halo of a "truth fighter," the MAGA movement lost some of its most fervent supporters, and the institutional crisis in the United States remains unresolved.
The much-anticipated inside story of Epstein
"All they need to do is release the documents as promised," said Musk. These words may seem simple, but they are like a cold verdict: In the world of politics, truth is heavier than anyone, and more difficult to bear.
Perhaps the files will be released one day, but until that day arrives, people can only continue to wander between silence and disillusionment. And Trump will forever carry the heaviest question: Why did the truth fall into your hands?"
Original: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7526754801940218418/
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