Billionaire tech mogul Elon Musk physically body-checked Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent in a White House confrontation over IRS leadership that required multiple people to separate them and left Musk sporting a mysterious black eye.
Key Takeaways
- Elon Musk allegedly rammed his shoulder into Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent’s ribcage during a heated White House altercation over IRS leadership selection
- The confrontation escalated after Bessent reportedly mocked Musk’s unfulfilled pledge to uncover government waste and fraud
- President Trump was displeased with the incident, reportedly stating “This is too much” as Musk was escorted from the West Wing
- The physical confrontation followed growing tensions between Musk and the Trump administration, particularly after Trump declined to nominate Musk’s ally Jared Isaacman for NASA administrator
- White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt has downplayed the incident as merely a “disagreement” rather than a physical altercation
White House Altercation Highlights Growing Tensions
The confrontation between Elon Musk and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent erupted following a contentious Oval Office meeting regarding the appointment of the acting IRS commissioner. According to multiple sources, the disagreement turned physical when Musk rammed his shoulder into Bessent’s ribcage in what former Trump strategist Steve Bannon described as “like a rugby player” move. The incident required intervention from multiple staffers who separated the men before escorting Musk out of the West Wing. The conflict apparently stemmed from competing preferences for IRS leadership, with President Trump ultimately siding with Bessent’s candidate.
The physical altercation reportedly occurred after Bessent mocked Musk’s failure to deliver on his promise to identify government waste and fraud. Musk subsequently appeared with a black eye, initially blaming it on his son, though reports suggest it resulted from the confrontation with Bessent. President Trump, witnessing the escalating situation, was reportedly displeased with the incident, saying “This is too much,” according to sources familiar with the event. While the White House has attempted to minimize the severity of the confrontation, the physical nature of the dispute has raised serious concerns about decorum within the administration.
Deteriorating Relationship Between Musk and Trump
The physical confrontation comes amid a rapidly deteriorating relationship between the tech billionaire and President Trump. Tensions had been building for weeks, with disagreements over spending priorities and key appointments. The situation reached a breaking point when Trump declined to nominate Jared Isaacman, Musk’s preferred candidate, for NASA administrator. This decision apparently enraged Musk, who subsequently launched a public tirade against Trump on his social media platform X, making inflammatory accusations about the president being named in the “Epstein files” and calling for his impeachment.
“It’ll never be the same,” said a White House insider, regarding the relationship between Trump and Musk, suggesting that reconciliation between the two powerful figures is unlikely. Yahoo News.
President Trump has not remained silent about his frustrations with Musk, reportedly referring to him as a “big-time drug addict” in private conversations. Sources close to the administration indicate that Trump had already been advising insiders, including Vice President JD Vance, to exercise caution in their dealings with Musk well before the public fallout. The tech mogul had apparently alienated White House staff and clashed with Cabinet members over various policy approaches, particularly regarding financial strategies and the “Big Beautiful Bill” spending package that Musk later criticized as a “pork-filled” and “disgusting abomination.”
White House Downplays Incident
Despite multiple reports of a physical altercation, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt has attempted to minimize the incident, characterizing it as merely a “disagreement” rather than a fistfight. The administration appears eager to move past the embarrassing episode as they focus on passing key legislation. “The President and his entire administration, including the Treasury Department, is focused on passing the Big Beautiful Bill, which will secure our border, cut taxes for hardworking Americans, and deliver more affordable energy for families and businesses,” Leavitt stated, attempting to redirect attention to policy priorities.
“This is too much,” said President Trump, reportedly after witnessing the altercation between Musk and Bessette. India Today.
In a seemingly unrelated but similarly controversial development, ABC News correspondent Terry Moran faced suspension following an unprofessional tweet criticizing President Trump and White House advisor Stephen Miller. ABC News swiftly reprimanded Moran, stating that his comments violated their standards of objectivity and impartiality. The incident highlights the ongoing tensions between mainstream media outlets and the Trump administration, even as internal administration conflicts like the Musk-Bessent confrontation continue to make headlines across the political spectrum.
