Marco Rubio and Elon Musk Had Knock-Down, Drag-Out Fight on Thursday — and Trump Sided With Rubio

During a private Cabinet meeting at the White House on Thursday, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Elon Musk reportedly had a heated argument that escalated to the point where President Donald Trump had to step in.

According to a report by The New York Times journalists Jonathan Swan and Maggie Haberman, the clash began when Musk criticized Rubio, accusing him of failing to make significant staffing changes at the State Department. Musk’s comments added fuel to an already tense situation between the two.

Rubio, who had been privately upset with Musk for weeks, finally confronted him during the meeting. Musk’s team had recently shut down the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), an agency under Rubio’s oversight, which had angered the Secretary of State.

Rubio defended himself, pointing out that over 1,500 State Department officials had already taken early retirement through buyouts. He sarcastically asked if Musk wanted him to rehire those employees just to fire them again for show. Rubio also outlined his plans for reorganizing the State Department.

Musk, however, was unimpressed. He dismissed Rubio’s efforts, suggesting that the Secretary of State was only “good on TV” and implying he wasn’t effective in his role. As the argument continued, President Trump reportedly sat back, arms folded, watching the exchange like a tennis match.

Eventually, Trump intervened, defending Rubio and praising him for doing a “great job.” The president acknowledged that Rubio had a lot on his plate, including running a large agency, and urged everyone to work together.

This report follows a Politico article that revealed Trump had clarified Musk’s role during the meeting. While Musk was empowered to make recommendations to government departments, he was not authorized to make unilateral decisions on staffing or policy.

Trump later summarized the meeting in a post on Truth Social, emphasizing the success of his administration’s cost-cutting efforts and the importance of collaboration between his Cabinet, Musk, and other key figures. He stressed the need to reduce staffing levels strategically, using a “scalpel” rather than a “hatchet,” while retaining the best and most productive employees.