White House Officials Reportedly Clash in IRS Leadership Dispute

In April 2025, a heated dispute over the nomination of the acting IRS commissioner led to a physical altercation between Elon Musk and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent inside the White House, according to former Trump advisor Steve Bannon. The conflict arose after a tense Oval Office meeting with President Donald Trump, who sided with Bessent's preferred candidate, Gary Shapley, a whistleblower involved in the Hunter Biden tax investigation. Following the meeting, insults escalated into a shoulder strike by Musk and a retaliatory blow from Bessent, prompting intervention and Musk's removal from the West Wing. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt downplayed the incident, describing it as a disagreement rather than a fistfight, and emphasized that disagreements are normal in policy processes under President Trump. The altercation intensified existing tensions between Musk and Trump, further exacerbated by Musk's criticism of Trump’s budget bill and his public accusations against the president, leading to a sharp decline in Musk's net worth and a reported intent by Trump to sell his Tesla. The dispute highlights ongoing friction within Trump's administration and Musk's strained relationship with the president and his team.