The incident involved Elon Musk, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, and President Donald Trump. It occurred near the Oval Office, within earshot of the President.
The dispute centered on the appointment of the acting IRS commissioner. Musk favored Gary Shapley, a whistleblower on Hunter Biden, while Bessent supported his deputy, Michael Faulkender. The argument escalated into a physical altercation, described as a "screaming match."
Bessent confronted Musk, leading to an exchange of insults and profanity. Musk reportedly called Bessent "failed," and Bessent accused Musk of going behind his back. The argument also involved disagreements about Musk's expectations regarding DOGE and Bessent's past.
An aide intervened to separate the two. Shapley was subsequently removed from his position as acting IRS commissioner three days after his appointment, and Faulkender took over. Bessent's statement on Shapley's dismissal didn't mention the incident, suggesting the dispute may have influenced the decision. Musk announced he would only work for DOGE one or two days per week starting in May.
The White House Press Secretary did not deny the incident, stating that disagreements are normal among passionate individuals working for the President.