A shouting match between Elon Musk and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent during a conversation about the IRS was first reported Wednesday.
Topline
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt did not deny reports that President Donald Trump’s key adviser Elon Musk and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent got into a yelling match when asked about it by reporters Wednesday, rather saying disagreements are “part of the healthy debate process.”Key Facts
Axios reported Wednesday that Bessent and Musk “got into a heated shouting match in earshot of” Trump and other officials during a conversation about the IRS at the White House last week.
Speaking to reporters Wednesday, Leavitt said: “There are disagreements amongst the president’s staff and Cabinet sometimes, but we think that’s part of the healthy debate process. And everybody knows that, ultimately, President Trump is the decision maker.”
The New York Times had previously reported Bessent complained to Trump that Musk had Gary Shapley—who has since been removed—named acting director of the IRS without Bessent’s approval.
