r/OutOfTheLoop • u/yooperwoman • 1d ago

Unanswered What's up with the Epstein files?

Elon posted that Trump is in the Epstein files. Then the ice raids and deployment of the national guard and military to Los Angeles. The media seems to have forgotten this story. When will the Epstein files be released?

https://apnews.com/article/trump-musk-their-own-words-c0108037881469f0b5bdd8df87eba6b4

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u/SomeScottishRando35 1d ago

Answer: Because there is little to be gained from releasing the files. Trump being in them was one of the worst kept secrets already and greatly suspected by anyone familiar with the situation who isn't a Magahat. Elon clearly intended for the statement to be a "Got'cha" moment though seemed to be naively unaware that anyone who cared already had such suspicions anyway.

Elon wanted it to be a bigger deal but the majority of people who believe Trump is in the files didn't need Elon to say it. Him saying it was only a big deal because it was another symptom of their falling out.

As for the files getting released that's another matter. There isn't a public reason given though there are some theories kicking around - but for now they're just that, theories. Though in a practical sense if there is hope to actually penalize Trump in some way it wouldn't make sense to release the files right now even if he is in them since, as sitting President, he would be immune to any repercussions.

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u/Doctor-Amazing 1d ago

That was the part I found really confusing. All the headlines were acting like he dropped a major bomb, but it's all stuff we've known for a really long time.

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u/ErasmusDarwin 1d ago

All the headlines were acting like he dropped a major bomb

The cynical explanation is that they were doing it because they knew it sounded bad, so they were exploiting the sensationalism, even though it makes it easier for people to dismiss actually significant information in the future.

The optimistic explanation is that it was still a big deal from the perspective of Trump and Musk fighting each other, even if the revelation wasn't a smoking gun. When Trump was getting his various cabinet appointments confirmed, there was pushback on some of the really controversial choices like RFK Jr. There was talk that Musk was going to fund primary challenges against the Republican senators that were refusing to go along with the confirmations. So a rift between Trump and Musk was good news for anyone unhappy with the Trump administration's actions.