The leading role the former “first buddy” took in stoking the Epstein controversy shows how he remains a potent political risk for Trump months after he publicly left the White House.

The series of posts signals a growing rift between two of the most high-profile figures on the political and tech stage — with Epstein transparency at the center of the tension. Trump previously indicated he would target Elon Musk’s companies after the Tesla CEO announced that Trump was in the Epstein files.

Elon Musk has weighed back into the Donald Trump and Jeffrey Epstein drama he helped create with a string of spicy social media posts. On Thursday, the president was pulled back into the Epstein saga after a Wall Street Journal article claimed Trump once sent the sex offender a letter including a drawing of a naked woman.