An intense exchange took place at the White House between tech mogul Elon Musk and Secretary of State Marco Rubio during a cabinet meeting where President Donald Trump attempted to ease rising tensions among his team. The confrontation ignited when Musk chastised Rubio for not significantly reducing his staff, implying that the only dismissal Rubio had executed was that of an official from the Government Efficiency Agency (DOGE, in English), which Musk himself oversees.
Rubio, clearly irritated, retorted with sarcasm, questioning if Musk expected him to rehire over 1,500 State Department employees just to fire them again publicly. He defended his approach, asserting that his team was efficiently reorganizing the department. According to The New York Times, as the argument escalated, Trump watched without intervening until he eventually supported Rubio, acknowledging his role's substantial responsibilities and frequent travel requirements.
Nevertheless, the president reaffirmed his endorsement of Musk's strategy to cut costs and reduce layoffs within the administration, though he urged for a more strategic approach, comparing the next phase to using a "scalpel" instead of an "axe." This altercation was just one of several tense moments during the meeting. Musk also sparred with Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy over layoffs at the Federal Aviation Administration and with Veterans Affairs Secretary Doug Collins regarding cuts affecting thousands of veterans.
Despite the controversies, the White House and cabinet officials downplayed the incident, emphasizing the meeting as a "productive" discussion. Although Musk remains one of Trump's primary financial allies, his growing influence and radical methods are causing discomfort among several cabinet members. The meeting highlighted the internal tensions within the president’s team and indicated that the power dynamics in the administration are still in flux.
Key Questions About the Musk and Rubio Tension
What triggered the clash between Elon Musk and Marco Rubio?
The clash began when Elon Musk criticized Marco Rubio for not significantly reducing his staff, suggesting that the only layoff Rubio had made was of an official within the Government Efficiency Agency overseen by Musk.
How did President Trump react during the confrontation?
President Trump observed the exchange without intervening initially but later defended Rubio, acknowledging his role’s demands and endorsing a more strategic approach to Musk's cost-cutting strategies.
What other issues arose during the cabinet meeting?
Besides the clash with Rubio, Elon Musk also confronted Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy over layoffs at the Federal Aviation Administration and Veterans Affairs Secretary Doug Collins about cuts impacting veterans.