On Thursday, US President Donald Trump convened a meeting with his cabinet secretaries to deliberate on Elon Musk’s initiatives aimed at cutting government expenditures and workforce numbers.
Media reports suggest that the discussion became quite intense.
During the meeting, Musk criticized Secretary of State Marco Rubio for not making significant enough staff reductions at the State Department, according to the New York Times.
Musk remarked to Rubio that he was “great on television,” deliberately omitting any compliments about his role as America’s chief diplomat.
Additionally, Musk had a disagreement with Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy regarding whether Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (Doge) task force attempted to let go of air traffic controllers who are already in limited supply at the Federal Aviation Administration, as reported by the New York Times.
Duffy’s department has faced scrutiny in light of two airline crashes since Trump assumed office in January.
After observing the heated exchanges, the Republican president reportedly stepped in to affirm his continued support for Doge, announcing that cabinet secretaries would take the lead while Musk’s team would primarily serve in an advisory capacity moving forward.
A spokesperson from the State Department conveyed that Rubio viewed the cabinet meeting as an “open and productive discussion.” The White House has not yet commented on BBC inquiries for additional details.
This hastily arranged meeting may indicate the president’s intention to rein in the extensive influence that Musk and the Doge cost-cutting initiative have wielded in the initial weeks of his administration.
Trump first shared insights about the meeting on his social media platform, Truth Social, later that evening, following media reports.
He stated that he had directed his secretaries to collaborate with Doge on “cost-reducing strategies.”
“As the secretaries become familiar with their respective departments, they can accurately determine who should stay and who should leave,” he noted, emphasizing that they should employ a “scalpel” instead of a “hatchet.”
ReutersJust weeks ago, Musk brandished a shiny chainsaw at a conservative conference, symbolizing aggressive efforts to drastically reduce government spending, which has frustrated Democrats and raised concerns among some Trump administration officials.
Musk’s team had dispatched numerous emails from an official government account to millions of federal employees, urging them to consider accepting months of advance pay in exchange for their resignations.
Federal employees were directed to document their weekly achievements, or face potential termination—a request some agencies advised their employees to disregard.
Doge also instructed the dismissal of many newly appointed government workers, who lacked full civil service protections due to their “probationary” status.
Subsequently, some government agencies reversed these orders since essential personnel, such as those overseeing nuclear security, were consequently impacted.
During an event in the Oval Office on Friday, Trump addressed inquiries regarding the cabinet meeting and reports of its intense exchanges. He insisted that there was “no conflict.” He praised both Rubio and Musk, stating that the two had a “great” rapport.
Trump’s post on Truth Social the previous Thursday appears to grant department heads greater authority to challenge Musk.
It might also serve as a strategy to protect the Trump administration from lawsuits claiming that Musk possesses excessive power, as he is not subject to Senate review and confirmation like cabinet secretaries are.
Numerous federal judges overseeing these cases have already exhibited concern regarding Musk’s grip on authority—a sentiment that could be exacerbated by Trump’s remarks during his congressional address on Tuesday, in which he indicated that Musk was indeed in charge of Doge.
Thus far, Musk and Trump have cultivated a formidable alliance, with Musk being the wealthiest individual globally, while Trump holds a significant political position in America. Speculation has circulated in Washington for months regarding whether this partnership might ultimately splinter.
Nonetheless, such predictions have often been followed by renewed indications of camaraderie between the two figures.
On Friday evening, Musk was observed boarding Air Force One with the president, headed to Trump’s Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida for the weekend.
The recent altercation in the cabinet room might reflect the first signs of strain in their relationship, but ample evidence suggests that Trump continues to endorse Musk’s overarching initiatives and objectives, even if he prefers a more meticulous approach in the future, distinct from the chainsaw methods.
