Musk and Treasury Secretary Clash in Heated Oval Office Aftermath
The Washington Post ignited a political firestorm after reporting that tech titan Elon Musk allegedly “body-checked” Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent following a heated disagreement in the White House earlier this year. According to former Trump strategist Steve Bannon, tensions flared in April after Musk and Bessent confronted President Trump over their competing picks for acting IRS commissioner. When Trump sided with Bessent, the two men reportedly exchanged insults outside the Oval Office before Musk allegedly rammed his shoulder into Bessent’s ribcage—prompting the Treasury Secretary to retaliate. The altercation, described by Bannon as a physical confrontation, underscores the growing rift between Musk and key Trump administration figures.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt downplayed the incident during an appearance on Fox News’ Sunday Morning Futures, insisting the clash was “definitely a disagreement” but not a full-blown fistfight. Though she admitted she wasn’t present, Leavitt emphasized that the administration had “moved on” from the spat. However, sources suggest Musk remains discontent over Trump’s decision to withdraw the NASA nomination of his ally Jared Isaacman, as well as the president’s controversial “big, beautiful” bill—a spending package Musk has derided as a “pork-filled abomination” on his social media platform, X.
The feud has spilled into public view, with Musk’s vocal opposition to the bill causing division among Republicans, including Sens. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) and Rand Paul (R-Ky.), who have refused to support it. Meanwhile, Leavitt dismissed criticism from ABC News’ Terry Moran, who lashed out at Trump and senior aide Stephen Miller in a since-deleted tweet, calling the rant “unhinged.” As the White House pushes forward with its legislative agenda, the ongoing tension between Musk and Trump’s inner circle threatens to overshadow policy priorities—proving that in Washington, even billionaires aren’t above a bare-knuckle brawl.
