'That's way out of my lane': FBI chief Kash Patel steers clear of Trump-Musk feud, Epstein files

Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Director Kash Patel has refused to wade into the public spat between US President Donald Trump and tech billionaire Elon Musk, saying he won’t participate in this conversation.

Patel was speaking at the “Joe Rogan Experience" podcast on Thursday (June 5) when he learnt about Musk’s allegations regarding Trump’s involvement in the Jeffrey Epstein files.

“I’m not participating in any of that conversation between Elon and Trump," said Patel.

Rogan: Jesus Christ. That’s a crazy thing to say. How does he know that Donald Trump is in the Epstein files? Does he have access?

Patel: I'm not participating in any of that conversation. That's way out of my lane.

Kash clearly uncomfortable.

pic.twitter.com/OrEBfirSRB

— Spencer Hakimian (@SpencerHakimian) June 6, 2025

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Musk’s ‘big bomb’

Elon Musk on Thursday dropped what he said “a big bomb ” on X when he claimed Trump was sitting over Epstein files and not releasing them because his name is mentioned in them.

“Time to drop the really big bomb: Donald Trump is in the Epstein files. That is the real reason they have not been made public. Have a nice day, DJT." In another post on X, Musk stated, “Mark this post for the future. The truth will come out."

Soon after Musk’s claim, Democrats too demanded the list be released.

House Democrats reportedly pressed the Department of Justice and the FBI to investigate Musk’s.

Joe Rogan’s reaction to Musk’s remarks

Podcaster Joe Rogan said it was “crazy” for Musk to say such a thing on X.

“That’s a crazy thing to say. How does he know? Does he know that Donald Trump is in the Epstein files? Or does he have access to the Epstein files?"

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Meanwhile, Patel added that he didn’t know how Musk would know about the details of the Epstein files.

“I’m just staying out of the Trump-Elon thing; that’s way outside my lane. I know my lane, and that ain’t it," Patel said.

Ahead of the 2024 presidential elections, Trump declared he wouldn’t have any problem releasing the Jeffrey Epstein files. However, the US president has not fulfilled this promise yet.

In February 2025, the Justice Department, under Attorney General Pam Bondi, released approximately 200 pages of documents related to Jeffrey Epstein, including flight logs, a redacted contact book, and an evidence list from investigations into his crimes. These documents, described as “Phase 1,” largely contained previously leaked material, such as pilot logs from Ghislaine Maxwell’s trial and Epstein’s “black book,” but offered no major new revelations.

Bondi later claimed that the FBI’s New York Field Office was withholding thousands of additional pages related to Epstein’s investigation and indictment.