Elon Musk and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent had an explosive argument inside the White House last week, one that was so intense, an aide had to physically step in to separate them. The fiery confrontation, described by eyewitnesses as a “WWE-style screaming match,” unfolded just outside the Oval Office, where the two men exchanged harsh words in front of President Donald Trump.
The dispute was sparked by the nomination of Gary Shapley, a former IRS agent who had made headlines as a whistleblower on Hunter Biden. Musk supported Shapley for the role of IRS commissioner, while Bessent backed Michael Faulkender, the deputy treasury secretary. The tension boiled over when Bessent confronted Musk for allegedly going behind his back to push for Shapley’s appointment.
According to two anonymous witnesses, it was at this point that the profanity flew. Bessent accused Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) of failing to live up to its promises, while Musk fired back, calling Bessent a “Soros agent” who had run a “failed hedge fund.” The argument escalated quickly, with Musk calling Bessent “failed” and both men shouting at each other.
“It was two billionaire, middle-aged men thinking it was WWE in the hall of the West Wing,” one witness told Axios. The dispute wasn’t physical in the Oval Office, but the shouting match continued as the two men moved into the hall. “It was quite a scene. It was loud. And I mean, loud,” said the second witness.
White House officials, including Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, did not deny the altercation. In a statement, Leavitt said, “It’s no secret President Trump has put together a team of people who are incredibly passionate about the issues impacting our country,” adding, “Disagreements are a normal part of any healthy policy process.”
The chaos didn’t stop there. Just a day after the confrontation, Shapley was removed from his post, with Faulkender taking over as the acting IRS commissioner. Bessent’s statement on the matter was polite but pointed: “Trust must be brought back to the IRS, and I am fully confident that Deputy Secretary Michael Faulkender is the right man for the moment.” He also praised Shapley, calling him “among my most important senior advisors at the U.S. Treasury.”
Despite the public fallout, Musk’s presence in Washington remains influential. On a call with Tesla investors, Musk said that, starting in May, he would only work on DOGE one or two days per week. He explained his limited schedule by saying, “As a special government employee, my number of work days per year is capped at 130.”
The Musk-Bessent spat is just the latest in a series of tense encounters involving Musk, who has earned the nickname “the most irritating person I’ve ever had to deal with” from some White House officials. Sources close to Bessent confirmed the tension, saying the treasury secretary “can’t stand” Musk. Meanwhile, anonymous sources within the White House have privately expressed doubts about Musk’s behavior, even questioning whether he was under the influence during interactions with staff.
In the end, Bessent seems to have come out on top, securing his preferred choice, Faulkender, for the IRS role. But the White House showdown between these two powerful figures is likely to be remembered as a moment of high drama—and a reminder of the raw intensity that can surface when billionaires clash in the halls of power.
