Newly Revealed Photos Tar Tesla With The Epstein Brush

The article highlights newly surfaced photographs obtained by The New York Times showing Tesla CEO Elon Musk in social settings with the late Jeffrey Epstein, a figure notorious for his involvement in sex trafficking and abuse scandals. While Musk is one among many celebrities photographed with Epstein, the timing is particularly damaging as Tesla faces a significant decline in electric vehicle (EV) sales across the US, Europe, and other markets. The article also references recent controversies involving Musk’s AI ventures, such as the xAI Grok Imagine feature generating inappropriate deepfake videos and anime-style AI companions with problematic characterizations, further compounding Tesla’s public relations challenges. The piece contextualizes Tesla’s current struggles within Musk’s evolving political and business stance. Initially a beneficiary of a 2009 US Department of Energy loan guarantee aimed at making EVs more affordable and increasing production, Musk has since shifted to a confrontational posture toward the federal government and public resources, actions that have reportedly cost taxpayers billions. His alignment with former President Trump and antagonism toward