A dispute between tech billionaire Elon Musk and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent erupted into a heated exchange, reminiscent of a wrestling match, in the West Wing last week, according to witnesses. This confrontation underscores the rising tensions within President Trump’s economic team.
The disagreement, which unfolded near the Oval Office while President Trump and other officials were nearby, was primarily about the leadership of the Internal Revenue Service. It led to what one source described 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 argument escalated to the point where an aide had to intervene and separate the two men.
The core of the disagreement was the control over IRS 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 the acting IRS commissioner. Bessent opposed this and preferred his deputy, Michael Faulkender, for the role.
During the confrontation, Bessent criticized Musk’s DOGE initiative for not achieving promised budget cuts, while Musk allegedly referred to Bessent as a “Soros agent” and mocked his past as a hedge fund manager.
The clash highlights not just a personality conflict but also differing approaches to government reform. Sources indicate that Bessent is focused on institutional reform and stabilization, whereas Musk favors a more aggressive strategy that some insiders describe as being 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 said. She added that “disagreements are a normal part of any healthy policy process,” without addressing the confrontation specifically.
The roots of the dispute appear to extend beyond the IRS appointment. Tension between Musk and Bessent reportedly began during the presidential transition when Musk unsuccessfully lobbied for Howard Lutnick to be named Treasury Secretary instead of Bessent.
Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, who was present during the confrontation, reportedly supported Musk in the exchange.
In the immediate aftermath, President Trump sided with Bessent, removing Shapley just three days after his appointment and installing Faulkender as Bessent’s preferred candidate. However, White House insiders believe the power struggle between these two influential figures is far from over.
This is not Musk’s first clash with senior Trump administration officials. He has previously had public disputes 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 within the administration appears to be evolving. He recently announced he would be scaling back his involvement with DOGE to focus more on his companies, including Tesla. According to statements from Musk, he plans to reduce his government work to just “one or two days per week” after May, when his appointment as a special government employee is scheduled to end.
Despite these internal conflicts, President Trump has continued to express support for 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 disruptive approach appeals to those seeking radical government reform, it creates friction with career officials and other appointees who favor institutional stability.
As the administration moves forward, balancing these competing visions for government reform—particularly for an agency as crucial as the IRS—will likely remain a point of contention.
For now, Bessent appears to have won this round of the power struggle, with his preferred candidate securing the acting IRS commissioner role. However, with months remaining 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.
