In an extraordinary cabinet meeting at the White House, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio found himself in a heated confrontation with Elon Musk, the richest man in the world. He also laid out his plans to reorganize the State Department, challenging Musk's claims.
President Trump, who had remained silent for most of the exchange, finally intervened to defend Rubio, emphasizing the workload he bears and the need for collaboration within the cabinet. This meeting is seen as a potential turning point in Trump's second term, where the president seems willing to set limits on Musk, who has raised concerns among Republican lawmakers due to his actions and influence.
Cabinet members have shown support for Musk's mission to reduce government waste but expressed frustration over his aggressive approach and lack of coordination. Trump made it clear that, from now on, cabinet secretaries would be in charge, while Musk's team would only provide advisory input.
The meeting, which was called abruptly, revealed the growing tensions within Trump's team. Rubio, visibly upset, responded sarcastically, questioning whether Musk considered the more than 1,500 officials from the State Department who retired early as layoffs.
In a message following the meeting, Trump mentioned that the next phase of his plan to reduce the federal workforce would be carried out with a "scalpel" instead of a "hatchet," referring to Musk's approach. The confrontation between Musk and Rubio, as well as the exchange with Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy regarding the state of aircraft tracking equipment, highlights the divisions within the administration and the increasing concern over the direction in which Musk's proposed reforms are being carried out.
Although Musk remains a significant financial supporter for the president, the dynamic within the cabinet could be changing. Tensions escalated when Musk accused Rubio of not having fired "anyone," referring to the lack of cuts at the United States Agency for International Development, which was supposedly under Rubio's control. Musk, sitting in a prominent position during the meeting, disqualified Rubio by suggesting that perhaps the only firing he had done was of a staff member from his own agency.
