Elon Musk vs. Marco Rubio? Trump Calls It Fake News

U.S. President Donald Trump has dismissed claims that his senior advisor, billionaire Elon Musk, had a heated exchange with Secretary of State Marco Rubio during a White House cabinet meeting.

A report by The New York Times alleged that Musk confronted Rubio over cost-cutting measures at the State Department and separately clashed with Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy. The meeting, chaired by Trump, reportedly became tense as Musk, leading the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), pushed aggressive budget reductions, sparking resistance from department heads.

Following the meeting, Trump assured that while budget cuts would continue, they would be implemented with precision rather than drastic measures. Addressing reporters on Friday, he refuted claims of conflict, stating, “No clash. I was there.” He further emphasized that “they’re both doing a fantastic job … they both get along fantastically well.”

According to the Times report, Musk criticized Rubio’s handling of cost reductions at the State Department, accusing him of failing to make significant personnel cuts. Rubio reportedly defended his record, highlighting that 1,500 officials had already taken early retirement and sarcastically asked if Musk expected him to rehire and fire them again just for show.

Also Read: ‘India has agreed to cut tariffs’, claims Donald Trump

In another reported confrontation, Duffy accused DOGE of attempting to terminate essential air traffic controllers amid ongoing aviation safety concerns. Musk allegedly dismissed the claim as a “lie,” prompting Trump to step in and suggest hiring replacements from top institutions like MIT.

Since taking office, Trump’s administration has drastically reduced federal workforce numbers, leading to increasing friction between Musk’s Silicon Valley-recruited DOGE team and senior government officials. While reports of tensions persist, Trump continues to downplay any internal conflicts.