Elon Musk Shoves US Treasury Secretary During White House Dispute

In mid-April 2025, a physical altercation erupted between Elon Musk, then head of the Department of Government Efficiency, and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent following a heated Oval Office meeting with President Donald Trump regarding the acting IRS commissioner appointment. Bessent called Musk a fraud for failing to uncover $1 trillion in wasteful government spending as promised, prompting Musk to shove Bessent "like a rugby player," which led to a physical response and required intervention by multiple aides. The incident marked the beginning of a public fallout between Musk and President Trump, exacerbated by Musk's vocal criticism of Trump's "One Big Beautiful Bill Act" budget proposal and allegations of Musk's drug use, which further strained relations. Trump described the physical fight as "too much" and warned Musk about potential repercussions if he supported Democratic candidates or continued opposition, including threats to revoke contracts with Musk's companies. Musk accused the Trump administration of withholding sensitive documents related to Jeffrey Epstein and hinted at backing Trump's impeachment, escalating the feud. The clash revealed deep divisions within the administration and raised concerns about Musk's role and conduct in government, culminating in his exit from the White House by the end of May.