WASHINGTON, D.C. — What started as a routine policy discussion spiraled into a full-blown verbal brawl in the West Wing last week, as Elon Musk and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent squared off in a profanity-laced shouting match that had aides scrambling to keep the peace.
According to multiple eyewitnesses, the confrontation erupted just outside the Oval Office and quickly escalated into what one insider called “a billionaire slap-fight on steroids.” The dispute centered around the appointment of a new IRS commissioner — a decision that has now triggered serious political aftershocks in the capital.
Musk, who heads the controversial Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), had thrown his weight behind Gary Shapley — a former IRS agent turned whistleblower who gained national attention for exposing alleged misconduct in the Hunter Biden investigation. Bessent, however, backed Deputy Treasury Secretary Michael Faulkender, a more conventional and less politically radioactive figure.
Tensions had apparently been simmering for weeks, but things boiled over when Bessent accused Musk of working behind the scenes to push Shapley’s nomination without consulting Treasury leadership. That’s when the gloves came off — and the F-bombs began to fly.:
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“Bessent called DOGE a joke. Musk hit back calling Bessent a ‘Soros puppet’ and a ‘hedge fund failure,’” said one staffer with direct knowledge of the incident. “They were yelling so loud, people on the second floor heard it.”
Eyewitnesses described the scene as surreal — like watching a late-night cable drama unfold in real life. “It was like watching two middle-aged billionaires do WWE cosplay,” joked another aide, who added that at one point, a senior staffer had to physically step between them to stop the confrontation from turning physical.
The clash wasn’t just loud — it was deeply personal. Musk, known for his combative style and social media tirades, reportedly questioned Bessent’s loyalty to President Trump and accused him of sabotaging DOGE’s agenda. Bessent, in turn, dismissed Musk as a “part-time bureaucrat” who “thinks a meme is a policy plan.”
By the next day, the political fallout was in motion. Shapley was abruptly removed from his acting position, and Faulkender was installed as the new interim IRS chief. In a carefully worded statement, Bessent said, “Trust must be restored at the IRS,” while diplomatically thanking Shapley for his service.
But the message was clear: Bessent had won this round.
The White House tried to downplay the drama. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt brushed off the incident, saying, “Disagreements are a normal part of any passionate and high-performing administration.”
Behind the scenes, however, the clash has sent shockwaves through the West Wing. Several officials have privately questioned Musk’s behavior, with one saying they wouldn’t be surprised if he was “under the influence” during some of his more erratic interactions. Another described the Tesla CEO as “the most exhausting person to deal with in government.”
Still, Musk remains defiant. On a recent investor call, he acknowledged his limited schedule at DOGE, saying, “As a special government employee, I’m capped at 130 days. That’s fine. It’s quality, not quantity.”
Whether this is the end of the feud or just the beginning of a new chapter in D.C.’s most bizarre political bromance-turned-blood feud remains to be seen.
One thing’s certain: when billionaires clash in the White House, it’s not just politics — it’s theater.
1 comment
Theatre. All threatre. The ruling class are turning the US into a prison camp. The walls are to keep people in. Musk is the bad guy distraction.