Overview

• Elon Musk and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent engaged in a loud and heated argument in the West Wing over the appointment of the acting IRS commissioner.
• The dispute centered on Musk’s support for Gary Shapley, who was briefly appointed to the role, and Bessent’s successful push to replace him with Michael Faulkender.
• During the confrontation, Bessent criticized Musk for failing to deliver on DOGE’s budget-cutting promises, while Musk accused Bessent of being a “Soros agent” and criticized his financial track record.
• The argument underscores longstanding tensions dating back to the presidential transition, when Musk’s preferred candidate for Treasury Secretary was passed over in favor of Bessent.
• White House insiders report that the relationship between Musk and Bessent remains strained, with little expectation of reconciliation as internal policy battles continue.