A confrontation occurred between Elon Musk and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent in the West Wing last week, escalating into a verbal altercation that witnesses likened to a “WWE-style” shouting match. The incident underscored rising tensions within President Donald Trump’s economic team.
The argument, which took place near the Oval Office with President Trump and other administration officials nearby, centered on the appointment of the head of the Internal Revenue Service. One source described it as “two billionaire, middle-aged men thinking it was WWE in the hall of the West Wing.”
“The F bombs started to fly,” according to a witness. The altercation grew so heated that an aide intervened to separate the two men.
The core of the disagreement involved the IRS’s leadership. Musk, who leads the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), advocated for Gary Shapley, a former IRS agent known for leaking information about Hunter Biden’s taxes, to be appointed acting IRS commissioner. Bessent opposed this and preferred his deputy, Michael Faulkender, for the role.
During the exchange, Bessent criticized Musk’s DOGE initiative for not achieving the promised budget cuts. Musk reportedly called Bessent a “Soros agent” and ridiculed him for managing “a failed hedge fund.”
The clash reflects differing approaches to government reform. Sources close to both men indicate Bessent aims to reform and stabilize government institutions. In contrast, Musk favors a more aggressive approach, described by some insiders as willing to “break things in the process of reform.”
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt minimized the incident when addressing reporters. “It’s no secret President Trump has put together a team of people who are incredibly passionate about the issues impacting our country,” Leavitt stated. She added that “disagreements are a normal part of any healthy policy process” without directly addressing the specifics of the confrontation.
The disagreement appears to have roots beyond the IRS appointment. Tension between Musk and Bessent reportedly dates back to the presidential transition, when Musk unsuccessfully lobbied for Howard Lutnick to be named Treasury Secretary instead of Bessent.
Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, who witnessed the confrontation, reportedly supported Musk during the exchange.
Following the incident, President Trump sided with Bessent, removing Shapley three days after his appointment and installing Faulkender as the acting IRS commissioner. However, White House insiders believe that this power struggle between these two influential figures is unresolved.
This is not Musk’s first dispute with senior Trump administration officials. He has previously had public disagreements with other Cabinet members, including reportedly calling senior counselor for trade and manufacturing Peter Navarro a “moron.”
The public nature of these disagreements raises questions about the administration’s internal dynamics, though the White House maintains that such passionate debates ultimately strengthen policy outcomes.
Musk’s role in the administration appears to be evolving. He recently announced plans to scale back his involvement with DOGE to focus more on his companies, including Tesla. Musk stated he plans to reduce his government work to “one or two days per week” after May, when his appointment as a special government employee is set to end.
Despite these internal conflicts, President Trump continues to support Musk’s involvement in the administration, valuing his business experience and outside perspective.
The incident highlights the challenges of integrating unconventional figures like Musk into traditional government structures. While his approach appeals to those seeking radical government reform, it has created friction with career officials and other appointees who favor institutional stability.
As the administration proceeds, balancing these competing visions for government reform, particularly for an agency as crucial as the IRS, will likely remain contentious.
For now, Bessent appears to have prevailed in this round of the power struggle, with his preferred candidate in the acting IRS commissioner role. However, with months left in Musk’s government role, albeit in a reduced capacity, further clashes cannot be ruled out.
The Treasury Department and representatives for Musk have not provided additional comments on the incident beyond the White House’s official statement praising “healthy debate” among administration officials.
