
After Elon Musk and Marco Rubio fight in cabinet meeting, Donald Trump explodes at reporter; here's what he said
Donald Trump has firmly denied reports of a heated exchange between billionaire Elon Musk and Secretary of State Marco Rubio during a recent closed-door Cabinet meeting. Speaking to reporters, Trump claimed that the meeting was «completely harmonious» and dismissed any allegations of a confrontation. However, sources indicate that Musk and Rubio had a tense discussion regarding the operations of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), which Musk leads.
Did Musk and Rubio really clash at the meeting?
According to various sources, including The New York Times, the disagreement began when Musk criticized Rubio for not implementing significant staff reductions at the State Department. Musk allegedly accused Rubio of not firing «anyone,» aside from a minor official from DOGE. In response, Rubio highlighted a recent wave of early retirements at the department and sarcastically questioned whether he should rehire employees just to let them go again. Trump, however, dismissed the idea of any conflict, stating, «Elon gets along great with Marco.» He further downplayed the reports as exaggerated and scolded an NBC reporter who inquired about the meeting, labeling him a «troublemaker.»
What is DOGE, and why is it controversial?
The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), headed by Musk, was created to reduce bureaucratic inefficiencies and streamline government operations. Since its establishment, DOGE has been aggressively slashing budgets, leading to tensions with various government agencies. Critics argue that the department's swift cuts could jeopardize essential services, while supporters contend that it is crucial to eliminate wasteful spending.