It was supposed to be just another no-holds-barred conversation on The Joe Rogan Experience, but what unfolded in real time stunned even Joe Rogan himself.

Midway through the recording of Rogan’s high-profile interview with FBI Director Kash Patel on Thursday afternoon, chaos was erupting on social media. 

Donald Trump and Elon Musk, once the closest of political allies and collaborators, were detonating their relationship in a flurry of public insults, threats, and finally, an explosive accusation that would leave political world gasping.

‘Jesus Christ,’ Rogan muttered, his eyes widening as he read aloud Musk’s now-infamous post: ‘Time to drop the really big bomb. Donald Trump is in the Epstein files. That’s the real reason they have not been made public. Have a nice day, DJT!’

The podcast had already been knee-deep in a discussion of child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein’s shadowy network, when Rogan’s producer put up Musk’s incendiary post on the screen. 

It was an accusation aimed squarely at Trump, dragging him into the murky world of Epstein’s infamous island and the so-called ‘Epstein files’ – flight logs and documents long rumored to implicate the powerful and well-connected.

‘I’m not participating in any of that conversation between Elon and Trump,’ Patel said immediately, distancing himself from the explosive spat.

But Rogan couldn’t look away.

The war on social media between President Donald Trump and Elon Musk stunned even Joe Rogan himself

FBI Director Kash Patel made sure to steer clear from commenting on the very public spat

The Musk-Trump row had been simmering for days, but few expected it to erupt so spectacularly

‘Someone should take his phone away,’ Rogan muttered, incredulous. ‘Jesus Christ that’s a crazy thing to say. How does he know? Does he have access to the Epstein files?’

Patel remained calm but firmly replied: ‘I don’t know how he would. But I’m staying out of it. That’s way outside my lane.’

Still in disbelief Rogan added: ‘What the f*** are they doing?’

The Musk-Trump row had been simmering for days, but few expected it to erupt so spectacularly. 

‘I understand he owns Twitter, but I think it’s bad for your mental health,’ Rogan said moments later. 

‘Posting all day and arguing with people all day – that can’t be good for you.’ 

‘I know my lane and that ain’t it,’ Patel said again, staying as far from the blast zone as possible. 

Hours earlier, at a White House meeting, Trump had lashed out at Musk’s blistering critique of his prized ‘Big Beautiful Bill,’ calling the Tesla founder ‘very disappointing.’ 

The podcast had already been knee-deep in a discussion of child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein ‘s shadowy network, when Rogan’s producer put up Musk’s incendiary post on the screen

It is no secret that Trump associated with Epstein, even if he has been reluctant to admit it

From there, the tit-for-tat escalated with breathtaking speed.

Musk upped the ante by threatening to back a third-party challenger, a nightmare scenario for Republican strategists. 

Trump, never one to back down, retaliated by publicly musing about cancelling Musk’s multi-billion-dollar government contracts with NASA and the Department of Defense.

By Friday, as word of the Musk-Trump implosion spread, Washington seemed to be in full crisis mode. 

Senior Republicans scrambled to contain the damage, fearful that the spectacle could derail crucial legislation, including Trump’s controversial tax and border spending bill, which Musk had labeled an ‘abomination.’

‘I hope it doesn’t distract us from getting the job done,’ Rep. Dan Newhouse (R-Washington) told reporters nervously.

Others practically begged for a reconciliation. ‘When the two of them are working together, we get a lot more done,’ Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas) said on Fox News. 

On Friday, Trump, in true Trump fashion, showed no interest in extending an olive branch

Later on Friday Trump appeared to strike a more detached tone over the pair’s former friendship

Trump and Epstein were photographed together repeatedly at Mar-a-Lago during the 1990s and early 2000s – Trump always wearing a tie, Epstein never wearing one. They would pose with their respective girlfriends, Melania Knauss (centre, left) and Ghislaine Maxwell (right)

Senator Mike Lee (R-Utah) posted a photo collage of Trump and Musk, pleading: ‘Who else really wants @elonmusk and @realDonaldTrump to reconcile?’

But Trump, in true Trump fashion, showed no interest in extending an olive branch.

‘You mean the man who has lost his mind?’ he scoffed when asked about Musk during a phone interview with ABC News. ‘I’m not particularly interested in talking to him.’

Later, aboard Air Force One en route to his Bedminster golf club, Trump struck a more detached tone.

‘Honestly, I’ve been so busy working on China, Russia, Iran… I’m not thinking about Elon Musk. I just wish him well,’ he told reporters, even as aides privately fumed that Musk’s accusations could inflict serious damage.

Still, the president couldn’t resist one last jab: ‘He’s lost it.’

The political earthquake was soon matched by a financial one. 

Tesla’s stock plummeted more than 14% on Thursday amid the very public feud, wiping out nearly $100 billion in market value before recovering slightly by Friday. 

At the White House, aides whispered that Trump was considering getting rid of the bright red Tesla Model S he famously purchased earlier this year,  a symbol of the bromance that once was.

Musk is seen jumping on stage as he joined Donald Trump during a campaign rally last October

At the White House, aides whispered that Trump was considering getting rid of the bright red Tesla Model S he famously purchased earlier this year, a symbol of their former bromance

Musk remained unusually quiet on Friday, steering clear of his usual rapid-fire posting on X, the platform he owns and has aggressively reshaped

‘He’s thinking about it, yes,’ a senior White House official confirmed. 

Meanwhile, Musk remained unusually quiet on Friday, steering clear of his usual rapid-fire posting on X, the platform he owns and has aggressively reshaped.

For Trump, Musk’s financial and political support had been crucial. 

The billionaire donated nearly $300 million to Trump’s 2024 campaign. But Musk, too, has much to lose. 

His government contracts with NASA and the Department of Defense are worth billions, and any serious review could spell trouble for SpaceX’s ambitious projects – including manned missions to the moon and Mars.