Musk Attempts to Distract from Grok AI Scandal and Epstein Files with Moon City Plan

Last week, Elon Musk announced that SpaceX is reorienting its long-term ambitions away from Mars and toward building what he described as a “self-sustaining city on the Moon.” The proposal is vast, speculative, and years — if not decades — from realization. It is also perfectly timed.

The announcement arrives as Musk faces intensifying public and regulatory scrutiny on multiple fronts, including escalating controversy over his AI chatbot, Grok, and renewed attention following the release of the Epstein files which include Musk in them.

What Musk Doesn’t Want People Talking About

Musk’s AI company, xAI, has been under fire after Grok was used to generate millions sexualized deepfake images, including of minors. Lawmakers, child-safety groups, and international bodies have raised alarms and demanded accountability, warning that Grok’s image tools have enabled abuse at scale and continues to do so.

The Epstein Files

At the same time, newly released Epstein files reveal that Elon Musk had more extensive and friendly communications with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein than previously publicly known, including detailed discussions in 2013 about a possible visit to Epstein’s private Caribbean island.

Enter: The Moon City

Instead of addressing these controversies head-on, Musk introduced a vision so expansive and long-term that it naturally shifts public attention elsewhere. Large, future-focused announcements tend to dominate news cycles, especially when they promise world-changing outcomes, and this one was no exception.