Musk, Rubio reportedly clashed in front of Trump during Cabinet meeting, according to sources. - ABC News

Musk, Rubio reportedly clashed in front of Trump during Cabinet meeting, according to sources. - ABC News

Elon Musk, the visionary entrepreneur, and Marco Rubio, the esteemed Secretary of State, reportedly clashed during a hastily arranged White House Cabinet meeting on March 7, 2025 [1]. The disagreement arose from Rubio's management of the State Department and Musk's concerns over the department's lack of personnel changes.

According to sources familiar with the matter, Musk accused Rubio of not making any significant personnel changes within his department, while Rubio refuted this claim, stating that more than 1,000 employees had taken buyouts [1]. The disagreement escalated, with Trump observing the exchange before intervening and praising Rubio's performance [1].

This incident marks a significant moment in the already tense relationship between Musk and Trump's Cabinet. Multiple sources have reported that members of the Cabinet have been frustrated with Musk's approach to cuts in the federal government and directives given to all government employees [2].

Despite the reported clash, both Musk and Rubio have maintained a positive public image. Trump downplayed the incident, stating that there was no conflict and that the two men get along well [1].

References:

[1] ABC News. (2025, March 7). Musk, Rubio reportedly clashed in front of Trump during Cabinet meeting, according to sources. https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/musk-rubio-clashed-front-trump-cabinet-meeting-sources/story?id=119572925

[2] The Hill. (2025, March 7). Trump, Rubio, Musk reportedly clash. https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/5183308-trump-rubio-musk-reported-clash/