Tensions Flare Over IRS Commissioner Appointment
"Profanities and Insults Exchanged"
According to foreign media reports, Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla and head of the U.S. Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), and Scott Besant, U.S. Treasury Secretary, clashed head-on, exchanging profanities in the Oval Office at the White House.
On the 23rd (local time), U.S. political media outlet Axios reported, citing multiple sources, that CEO Musk and Secretary Besant engaged in a heated argument in front of President Donald Trump on April 17 over the appointment of the acting IRS Commissioner.
According to sources, both men tried to secure the acting IRS Commissioner position for their respective allies in front of President Trump, who holds the final authority over appointments. The exchange escalated in intensity. One witness said, "In the Oval Office, they did not get physical, but President Trump was witnessing everything right in front of him. Then, they moved into the hallway and continued their argument."
Another source stated, "When Secretary Besant and CEO Musk faced off in the meeting, F-bombs started flying." Another witness commented, "In the West Wing, where the Oval Office is located, it looked like two billionaire middle-aged men were about to have a WWE-style wrestling match."
According to a previous report by the New York Times (NYT), at the meeting, President Trump ultimately sided with Secretary Besant. As a result, Gary Shapley, whom Musk had put forward as acting IRS Commissioner, was ousted from the position after only three days, suffering a humiliating defeat.
It remains unknown how President Trump reacted to the situation. However, the White House stated, "It is no secret that President Trump puts remarkably passionate people on the same team when it comes to issues affecting our country," adding, "Disagreements are part of a healthy policy process."
On the surface, the clash appeared to be a power struggle to establish hierarchy in front of President Trump, but in reality, it was also the eruption of longstanding animosity between CEO Musk and Secretary Besant.
Their adversarial relationship dates back to the transition team period before the launch of the Trump administration's second term. At that time, CEO Musk pushed for Howard Lutnick as Treasury Secretary instead of Besant, but President Trump appointed Besant to the position.
Axios analyzed that, by confronting Secretary Besant, CEO Musk?who had long acted as one of President Trump's closest confidants and had drawn the ire of other cabinet members?took his conflict with the cabinet to its highest level yet.
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