Elon Musk and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent Clash in Heated White House Shouting Match

Elon Musk and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent were involved in a fierce shouting match at the White House last week, an altercation witnessed by President Trump and other officials, according to two witnesses and three sources briefed on the confrontation, Axios has learned. "It was two billionaire, middle-aged men thinking it was WWE in the hall of the West Wing," one witness said of the clash, which occurred last Thursday. (Although Bessent's net worth stands at $520 million, slightly short of billionaire status.) The argument, which became physical in proximity but not violent, highlighted growing frustrations within senior ranks of the Trump administration over Musk’s aggressive approach to government agencies through DOGE.

While The New York Times reported Friday that Musk and Bessent had a dispute over who should lead the IRS, the previous day's face-to-face confrontation between the two men had not been previously disclosed. "They were not physical in the Oval, but the president saw it, and then they carried it down the hall, and that's when they did it again," said the first witness. Another added, "It was quite a scene. It was loud. And I mean, loud." When asked about the shouting match, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt referred back to her comments to the Times, stating, "It's no secret President Trump has put together a team of people who are incredibly passionate about the issues impacting our country," and adding, "Disagreements are a normal part of any healthy policy process. And ultimately everyone knows they serve at the pleasure of President Trump." Representatives for both Musk and Bessent declined to comment on the incident.

Musk has developed a reputation for clashing with several top officials in the Trump administration, having had public disputes with Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, and Trade Adviser Peter Navarro as well. "Everyone thinks DOGE is great, but Elon's antics are just a bit much," another administration official remarked. The rocky relationship between Musk and Bessent can be traced back to the presidential transition period, when Musk lobbied vigorously for Howard Lutnick to be appointed as Treasury Secretary. Trump ultimately selected Bessent for Treasury, placing Lutnick instead at the helm of the Commerce Department.

Tensions between Musk and Bessent continued to simmer after Trump took office, as the two frequently disagreed over staffing decisions within Treasury. "It wasn't a fight about right or wrong. It was about control," said one administration official familiar with their disputes. Part of the animosity also stems from their clashing personalities—Musk, known for his move-fast-and-break-things approach and his status as a social media icon, contrasts sharply with Bessent, a reserved financial strategist more comfortable explaining complex market dynamics than engaging in public fights. Despite occasionally praising Musk and DOGE, Bessent harbors a deep dislike for Musk. "What surprises a lot of people is Scott is so mild mannered. But he has his limits and he can roar," an ally of Bessent said, after being briefed on the incident. "Scott can't stand" Musk, the source added. "That goes pretty deep and pretty far back. But he's acting like a grown-up about it."

The immediate trigger for their most recent showdown traces back to April 16, when President Trump named Gary Shapley—Musk’s preferred choice—as acting commissioner of the IRS. Bessent had pushed for Deputy Treasury Secretary Michael Faulkender to assume the role instead. Infuriated by Musk’s maneuvering behind his back, Bessent confronted Musk at a White House meeting last Thursday, where "the F bombs started to fly," according to a source. Bessent blasted Musk for overpromising and under-delivering on budget cuts with DOGE. Musk retaliated by calling Bessent a "Soros agent" and accusing him of having "run a failed hedge fund," despite Trump’s consistent praise for Bessent’s financial expertise.

The argument escalated so intensely that an aide had to physically intervene and separate the two men. The altercation happened within earshot of Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who was visiting the White House that day. Two sources who overheard the shouting reported that at one point, Bessent yelled, "F**k you," to which Musk provocatively responded, "Say it louder." Later that evening, Trump loyalist Laura Loomer joined the fray by attacking Bessent on X, criticizing him for allowing a "Trump hater" into the Treasury for an unrelated financial literacy event. Musk chimed in at 11:02 p.m. with a quote-post simply stating, "Troubling."

However, by Friday, Bessent appeared to have gained the upper hand when The New York Times reported that Shapley was out and Faulkender was being installed as the new IRS head. Despite the explosive argument, neither Musk nor Bessent seems interested in reconciliation, and White House insiders are bracing for further clashes. "Scott won that round," one source said. "But I would not want a guy like Musk as an enemy."

By fLEXI tEAM