As dissatisfaction grows within the U.S. administration over the unchecked power of Elon Musk, head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), it has been reported that Musk and Secretary of State Marco Rubio publicly clashed during a cabinet meeting.
On the 7th (local time), The New York Times cited five sources reporting that during a cabinet meeting held at the White House the previous day, Musk and Secretary Rubio argued over the mass layoffs of federal employees.
Musk accused Secretary Rubio of not laying off enough personnel, reportedly sarcastically stating that no employees from the State Department had been fired.
In response, Secretary Rubio, who was seated diagonally across the oval table, questioned Musk about whether the 1,500 State Department employees who voluntarily resigned were not considered layoffs. He also sarcastically asked if Musk intended to rehire them to stage a "layoff show," before explaining his plans to reorganize the State Department.
It is known that Secretary Rubio had been angry for several weeks over Musk’s attempt to dismantle the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), which falls under the State Department.
Musk appeared unimpressed by the reorganization plan and told Secretary Rubio, "It looks good on TV," implying that Rubio did not perform well off-camera.
President Trump, sitting with his arms crossed in his chair, eventually intervened in the argument by defending Secretary Rubio, saying he was doing well. Trump reportedly added that Rubio has a lot to do, is very busy, constantly traveling on business trips, appearing on TV, and managing the department, emphasizing that everyone must work together.
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