WASHINGTON — Following reports of a tense cabinet meeting between billionaire Elon Musk and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, President Donald Trump met with the pair to address the situation. Trump took to Truth Social to declare that Musk and Rubio have a strong relationship, dismissing any contrary claims as fake news. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed that Trump had dinner with Rubio and Musk on Saturday night.
The meeting came after a New York Times report revealed a clash between Musk and Rubio during a Cabinet meeting, with Trump in attendance, concerning staff reductions. Musk, the CEO of SpaceX and Tesla, has made significant cuts and cancellations in his role as a “special government employee.” The argument reportedly lasted for a prolonged period, with Trump eventually stepping in to praise Rubio’s performance.
Rubio had been upset with Musk over the dismantling of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), which Rubio oversaw. Musk’s actions led to the early retirement of 1,500 State Department officials, sparking tension between the two.
Despite Trump’s attempt to quash the feud on social media, the situation escalated. A parody on “Saturday Night Live” featuring James Austin Johnson as Trump mediating a truce between Musk and Rubio captured the public’s attention. Trump emphasized that high-level officials, not Musk, are in charge of their respective agencies.
The unfolding drama between Musk and Rubio continues to draw attention and speculation.
