Surprise Feud Erupts Behind Closed Doors: Elon Musk vs. Trump’s Cabinet

For weeks, tensions have been simmering in Donald Trump’s administration, but now they’ve exploded into an all-out battle between Elon Musk and key cabinet members. According to an explosive exposé from The New York Times, a last-minute cabinet meeting turned into a battleground as Musk clashed with senior officials over his scorched-earth tactics.

The Breaking Point: Marco Rubio vs. Elon Musk

The confrontation reportedly reached a boiling point when Musk and Secretary of State Marco Rubio went head-to-head. Seated across from each other at the iconic elliptical mahogany table, Musk accused Rubio of failing to slash his staff, sneering, “You have fired nobody.”

Rubio, who had privately been furious over Musk’s unilateral decision to shut down the U.S. Agency for International Development, fired back, reminding Musk that over 1,500 State Department employees had already been let go through early retirements and buyouts. “Do they not count?” Rubio asked sarcastically. Musk, unimpressed, dismissed Rubio’s defense, implying that the senator was better suited for television appearances than actual governance.

Meanwhile, Trump sat back, arms folded, watching the chaos unfold like a reality TV episode.

Transportation Secretary Shawn Duffy Joins the Battle

Before the Rubio blow-up, Musk had already been sparring with Secretary of Transportation Shawn Duffy over the state of the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) tracking equipment. When Duffy accused Musk’s team of trying to lay off air traffic controllers despite ongoing safety concerns, Musk called him a liar. Duffy insisted otherwise, claiming Musk’s own staff had pushed for the cuts.

The argument escalated further when Musk implied that diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) hires were in control towers, prompting more pushback from Duffy. Trump eventually intervened, bizarrely suggesting that air traffic controllers should be recruited from MIT: “These people need to be geniuses.”

Trump Downplays the Feud, But Musk’s Actions Speak Volumes

When asked about the internal war, Trump predictably dismissed it. “No clash,” he told reporters. “Elon gets along great with Marco, and they’re both doing a fantastic job.”

However, Musk’s social media activity suggests otherwise. According to an account that tracks his Twitter follows and unfollows, Musk promptly unfollowed Shawn Duffy after the Times article was published. Coincidence? Unlikely.

A Growing Rift in Trump’s Inner Circle

This is far from the first internal fight in Trump’s orbit. The feud between Steve Bannon and Musk has been particularly vicious, with Bannon branding Musk a “crony capitalist” who is “owned lock, stock, and barrel by the Chinese Communist Party.” Bannon has repeatedly accused Musk of siding with China, pointing to Tesla’s reliance on the Chinese market and the controversial removal of a U.S.-China investment screening provision from a spending bill—something Musk allegedly pushed for.

Public Backlash Against Musk’s Role in Government

Americans across the political spectrum are growing uneasy about Musk’s influence in the administration. A Washington Post-Ipsos poll found that a 54-28% majority of voters see Musk’s prominent role as a negative. Meanwhile, 52% disapprove of Musk shutting down federal agencies, and 63% express concern about his team accessing sensitive government data. Even among Republican-leaning voters, 37% are at least “somewhat concerned” about Musk’s reach.

The Consequences of Musk’s Power Grab

While Musk enjoys lucrative government contracts for Tesla, SpaceX, and Starlink, his aggressive cost-cutting measures are leaving devastating consequences in their wake. Cancer research is defunded. Education is slashed. Healthcare is under threat. Veterans are losing their jobs. And amid it all, a billionaire tightens his grip on the government while the public foots the bill.

So if you lose your Medicaid or food stamps this year, just remember: at least Elon Musk is getting richer.