Elon Musk Does Damage Control As Conservatives Rage Over Epstein Files Disappointment: 'You Don't Get Instant Power'

Elon Musk defended Attorney General Pam Bondi amid conservative outrage over the disappointing release of Jeffrey Epstein-related documents, arguing that she faces bureaucratic resistance and needs time to exert authority.

Musk took to X (formerly Twitter) to argue that Bondi's detractors misunderstood the challenges of her position. He likened her situation to being placed in charge of a ship with a resistant crew, emphasizing that authority does not translate into "instant power."

"People don't understand that you don't get instant power here," Musk wrote.

"Imagine if you were suddenly appointed AG or head of the FBI. You were just thrown on a ship with a hostile crew," Musk said in another tweet. "Until you appoint some new crew members and figure out the ropes, you can't seer the ship effectively. It's literally impossible."

Musk's remarks came in response to online criticism claiming Bondi was not doing enough to push back against the Department of Justice and the FBI.

The handling of the Epstein files release has widened divisions within the MAGA movement. The Department of Justice, meanwhile, stated that this was only the "first phase" of document releases, suggesting that more disclosures may follow.

Earlier in the week, Bondi generated significant anticipation for the release of Epstein files, leading many within the MAGA movement to expect major revelations, the Daily Beast reported.

However, when the documents were made public Thursday, they contained little new information, prompting immediate backlash.

Many conservatives, including prominent Trump allies, criticized Bondi and the White House's handling of the release, with some going as far as to demand her resignation. The controversy deepened when it was revealed that the FBI had withheld 200 pages from Bondi, leading to accusations of a cover-up.

In response, Bondi publicly demanded that FBI Director Kash Patel release the remaining documents by Friday morning.