Musk-Bessent clash turned physical in April

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: The Washington Post
8 Jun 2025 21:44

The clash broke out in the Oval Office during a meeting to decide the interim commissioner of the Internal Revenue Service.

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Elon Musk attends a news conference with President Donald Trump in the Oval Office of the White House, Friday, May 30, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

A heated confrontation between Elon Musk and US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent reportedly turned physical in mid-April, marking a dramatic rupture in Musk's previously close relationship with President Donald Trump.

According to The Washington Post, which cited Trump advisor Stephen K. Bannon, the clash broke out in the Oval Office during a meeting to decide the interim commissioner of the Internal Revenue Service. Around the same time, The New York Times reported that the Trump administration had asked the Supreme Court to authorize members of Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to access sensitive Social Security Administration records.

During the meeting, both Musk and Bessent proposed rival candidates, but Trump ultimately backed Bessent’s nominee. After the meeting, tensions boiled over when Bessent allegedly called Musk "a total fraud," prompting Musk to ram his shoulder into Bessent’s ribs "like a rugby player." Bessent hit back, and the scuffle was quickly broken up. Musk was then escorted from the West Wing.

Mutual meltdown

The altercation was an early sign of a deeper and more public rift that has since unfolded between Musk and Trump. Once political allies, the two have since descended into a bitter feud marked by insults, policy disagreements, and personal attacks.

On June 3, Musk publicly condemned Trump's signature economic legislation, the so-called "One Big, Beautiful Bill", calling it a "disgusting abomination" that would add $2.6 trillion to the national deficit.

Days later, Trump responded by declaring their relationship over and warning of "serious consequences" if Musk financially supports Democrats opposing the bill.

Toxic fallout

In a further escalation, Trump threatened to terminate federal subsidies and contracts linked to Musk's businesses, a move that contributed to a 14% drop in Tesla stock by June 6.

Musk retaliated by suggesting Trump had suppressed the release of incriminating "Epstein Files" due to his own alleged involvement, a claim Trump swiftly denied, citing Epstein's former defense attorney.

Addiction allegations

The personal nature of the dispute deepened as Trump labeled Musk "a big-time drug addict," referencing ongoing media reports alleging Musk's use of ketamine and other substances.

Musk has pushed back, calling a New York Times article "a lie" and claiming he only used prescription ketamine briefly years ago. Reports from The Wall Street Journal dating back to 2023 have maintained that Musk's drug use persisted and posed serious risks to the companies he leads.