Brewing tensions between Tesla CEO Elon Musk and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent boiled over last week, reportedly ending in a heated argument in the halls of the White House.
According to New York Post, sources familiar with the matter told the NYP that the conversation was over the IRS, which quickly intensified to getting in each other’s face, and in the presence of President Donald Trump. Axios first reported the dispute that erupted.
One White House source told the Post Elon was “shouting and rambling,” and added that “Scott just wasn’t putting up with it.”
Another source said the disagreement stemmed from both men having different views on how reform should be orchestrated.
“Elon has one mandate: break things in the process of reform,” the source said, adding that Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick was present during the dust-up and appeared to be taking Musk’s side.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a response that “disagreements are normal” when “passionate” people work together.
“It’s no secret President Trump has put together a team of people who are incredibly passionate about the issues impacting our country,” Leavitt said. “Disagreements are a normal part of any healthy policy process, and ultimately everyone knows they serve at the pleasure of President Trump.”
Musk was also said to be disappointed in Trump’s choice for Treasury Secretary, throwing his support behind Lutnick.
“Bessent is a business-as-usual choice, whereas [Howard Lutnick] will actually enact change,” Musk wrote on X in November. “Business-as-usual is driving America bankrupt, so we need change.”
He also got into an online feud with Peter Navarro, the senior counselor for trade and manufacturing, calling Navarro a “moron.”
“Navarro is truly a moron. What he says here is demonstrably false,” Musk wrote on X. “Tesla has the most American-made cars. Navarro is dumber than a sack of bricks.”
Musk is set to leave his role with the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) at the end of May but noted he would be willing to contributing one or two days a week for DOGE.
