A tense confrontation erupted in a Cabinet meeting on Thursday as Secretary of State Marco Rubio and White House adviser Elon Musk clashed over staff reductions at the State Department. The heated exchange, which unfolded in front of President Donald Trump, highlighted growing tensions within the administration over federal workforce cuts, according to a report by The New York Times.
Musk, who has been leading efforts to slash federal bureaucracy at Trump’s direction, criticized Rubio for not making deep enough cuts.
“You’ve fired nobody,” Musk reportedly told Rubio, accusing him of failing to meet targets. He added sarcastically that the only person Rubio may have dismissed was a staffer from the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), a unit under Musk’s oversight.
Rubio defended his actions, pointing out that over 1,500 State Department employees had already accepted early retirement buyouts.
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“Do you want me to rehire those people just so you can fire them again for the show?” Rubio shot back, reportedly with sarcasm.
Musk, unimpressed, dismissed Rubio’s defense with a backhanded compliment, saying, “You’re good on TV.”
Trump Steps In: “Marco Is Doing a Great Job”
As the verbal duel escalated, Trump—who had been observing with folded arms—finally intervened. The President backed Rubio, stating that he was “doing a great job” balancing travel, media appearances, and departmental management.
“DOGE is only playing an advisory role,” Trump clarified, adding that final decisions on hiring and firing would rest with department heads—not Musk.
The Cabinet meeting was called after several agency heads raised concerns about Musk’s aggressive push for workforce reductions. Reports indicate that Republican lawmakers were also fielding backlash from constituents over the restructuring.
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White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles and the Office of Legislative Affairs had been inundated with complaints about Musk’s approach, prompting Trump to step in and address the issue.
Trump Dismisses Feud Rumors, Calls It “Media-Driven”
Following the meeting, Trump downplayed reports of a clash between Rubio and Musk, calling it a media exaggeration. “There was no clash. I was there. You’re just a troublemaker,” Trump told a reporter.
He praised both Rubio and Musk, saying: “Marco has done unbelievably as Secretary of State, and Elon is a unique guy who’s done a fantastic job.”
Trump on Truth Social: “Scalpel, Not Hatchet”
Taking to Truth Social, Trump emphasized that bureaucratic downsizing must be done with precision. “It’s important to cut levels down, but also important to keep the best and most productive people,” he posted.
“We say the scalpel rather than the hatchet.”
With Trump prioritizing efficiency over mass layoffs, it remains to be seen how Musk’s vision for a leaner government will align with Rubio’s more measured approach.
