Here’s how FBI director Kash Patel got to know about the Donald Trump-Elon Musk ‘big’ public fight

FBI

Director Kash Patel learned about the public dispute between US President Donald Trump and Tesla CEO Elon Musk during the taping of a

Joe Rogan podcast

. During the podcast, Patel was specifically informed about Musk's accusation linking Trump to the “Epstein Files.” Patel, who has recently faced criticism from some supporters for distancing himself from conspiracy theories related to Jeffrey Epstein since becoming FBI director, appeared surprised by the tech billionaire’s tweets about Trump's past association with Epstein. The interaction occurred as the relationship between Trump and Musk, who is a significant financial supporter of Trump's campaign and a figure in the

Department of Government Efficiency

(DOGE), experienced a notable public breakdown earlier this week. Rogan paused his interview with Patel to inform the FBI chief of Musk's statements.

What the FBI director Kash Patel said about the Trump-Musk dispute on Joe Rogan’s podcast

“That’s way outside my lane,” Patel noted, as Rogan asked, “what the f**k” was going on between the president and his former “first buddy.”About an hour into The Joe Rogan Experience recording, Musk responded to Trump’s remark that he was “disappointed” by the Tesla CEO’s continued criticisms of the “Big, Beautiful Bill” that Republicans are working to pass.

After Musk’s recent departure from the administration as a “special government employee,” the tech mogul has become more vocal in opposing the president’s legislation, arguing that it would “bankrupt” the country.Shortly before Musk shared his X post, Patel had spent a large part of his Rogan interview trying to convince the conspiracy-minded podcast host that Epstein did commit suicide. Patel and his deputy director, Dan Bongino, both of whom had previously supported the idea that Epstein was murdered in jail, have faced criticism from right-wing influencers for now stating that the available evidence points to Epstein taking his own life.As Rogan began speculating whether Patel and the FBI had footage of Epstein’s island residence, the show’s producer interrupted to inform them that Musk had just made his allegation about Trump.