Tensions between Tesla CEO Elon Musk and key members of President Donald Trump’s cabinet have escalated dramatically, culminating in a profanity-laced confrontation in the West Wing that reverberated through the halls of the Oval Office, according to a detailed report by The Atlantic. The incident underscores a deepening rift between Musk and Trump’s inner circle, as frustrations mount over Musk’s influence and approach to government reform. " Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent was shouting at Elon Musk in the halls of the West Wing last month, loud enough for Donald Trump to hear and in a language that he could certainly understand. Bessent and Musk were fighting over which of them should choose the next IRS leader—and, implicitly, over Musk’s bureaucracy-be-damned crusade. ...The fight had started outside the Oval Office; it continued past the Roosevelt Room and toward the chief of staff’s office, and then barreled around the corner to the national security adviser’s warren," reads the report.
Public Fight in the West Wing
The flashpoint occurred when Musk attempted to install Gary Shapley, a controversial former IRS agent known for leaking details about Hunter Biden’s tax affairs, as the head of the IRS without consulting Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. According to The Atlantic, Bessent erupted in anger, shouting, “F*** you!” at Musk multiple times, loud enough for President Trump to hear from inside the Oval Office. The confrontation highlighted Musk’s tendency to bypass traditional chains of command, a move that infuriated Bessent, who saw it as an overreach into his domain.
Musk fired back, labeling Bessent a “Soros agent” and mocking his past in the hedge fund industry, accusing him of running “a failed hedge fund,” as reported by The Independent. The public nature of the argument, set against the backdrop of the White House, amplified its significance and exposed the growing discord within Trump’s administration.
Elon Musk’s Struggles with Policy and Spending Cuts
Musk, who entered the administration with ambitious promises to slash $2 trillion in federal spending through his Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) initiative, has faced significant hurdles. The Atlantic notes that Musk recently admitted these efforts have been “really, really difficult,” with bureaucratic resistance and legal challenges undoing many of his proposed cuts. “The system is designed to resist change,” Musk reportedly said, according to The Independent, reflecting his frustration with the slow pace of reform.
Musk’s aggressive push for efficiency, including demands for weekly progress reports from federal agencies, has alienated some cabinet members. The Atlantic quoted one of Trump’s advisors as saying, “How many people were fired because they didn’t send in their three things a week or whatever the f*** it was?” The advisor’s exasperation reflects a broader sentiment that Musk’s methods are causing chaos rather than progress.
Growing Frustration Among Cabinet Members with Elon Musk and DOGE
The West Wing clash is not an isolated incident but part of a pattern of tensions between Musk and Trump’s cabinet. Earlier in March, Musk engaged in heated disputes with Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Secretary of Veterans Affairs Doug Collins, and Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, according to The Independent. These spats have fueled a sense of exasperation among Trump’s team, with some questioning Musk’s outsized role in the administration.
The Atlantic reported one advisor stating, “I think that everyone is ready to move on from this part of the administration,” signaling a desire to distance the White House from Musk’s disruptive presence. The advisor’s comment underscores the growing perception that Musk’s influence, while initially welcomed for its boldness, has become a liability.
The report adds that Elon Musk’s role in Trump’s administration was initially seen as a bold experiment, pairing a tech titan with a populist president to shake up Washington. However, his clashes with cabinet members and struggles to implement his vision have strained that
Public Fight in the West Wing
The flashpoint occurred when Musk attempted to install Gary Shapley, a controversial former IRS agent known for leaking details about Hunter Biden’s tax affairs, as the head of the IRS without consulting Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. According to The Atlantic, Bessent erupted in anger, shouting, “F*** you!” at Musk multiple times, loud enough for President Trump to hear from inside the Oval Office. The confrontation highlighted Musk’s tendency to bypass traditional chains of command, a move that infuriated Bessent, who saw it as an overreach into his domain.
Musk fired back, labeling Bessent a “Soros agent” and mocking his past in the hedge fund industry, accusing him of running “a failed hedge fund,” as reported by The Independent. The public nature of the argument, set against the backdrop of the White House, amplified its significance and exposed the growing discord within Trump’s administration.
Elon Musk’s Struggles with Policy and Spending Cuts
Musk, who entered the administration with ambitious promises to slash $2 trillion in federal spending through his Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) initiative, has faced significant hurdles. The Atlantic notes that Musk recently admitted these efforts have been “really, really difficult,” with bureaucratic resistance and legal challenges undoing many of his proposed cuts. “The system is designed to resist change,” Musk reportedly said, according to The Independent, reflecting his frustration with the slow pace of reform.
Musk’s aggressive push for efficiency, including demands for weekly progress reports from federal agencies, has alienated some cabinet members. The Atlantic quoted one of Trump’s advisors as saying, “How many people were fired because they didn’t send in their three things a week or whatever the f*** it was?” The advisor’s exasperation reflects a broader sentiment that Musk’s methods are causing chaos rather than progress.
Growing Frustration Among Cabinet Members with Elon Musk and DOGE
The West Wing clash is not an isolated incident but part of a pattern of tensions between Musk and Trump’s cabinet. Earlier in March, Musk engaged in heated disputes with Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Secretary of Veterans Affairs Doug Collins, and Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, according to The Independent. These spats have fueled a sense of exasperation among Trump’s team, with some questioning Musk’s outsized role in the administration.
The Atlantic reported one advisor stating, “I think that everyone is ready to move on from this part of the administration,” signaling a desire to distance the White House from Musk’s disruptive presence. The advisor’s comment underscores the growing perception that Musk’s influence, while initially welcomed for its boldness, has become a liability.
The report adds that Elon Musk’s role in Trump’s administration was initially seen as a bold experiment, pairing a tech titan with a populist president to shake up Washington. However, his clashes with cabinet members and struggles to implement his vision have strained that
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