'F-word bombs' in White House showdown between Elom Musk, Scott Bessent

Elon Musk and US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent engaged in a heated shouting match with “F-word bombs” at the White House last week during a dispute about the Internal Revenue Service, according to US media Axios.

The Department of Government Efficiency lead and the Treasury secretary got in each other’s faces in earshot of US President Donald Trump, the report said.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said disagreements are “part of the healthy debate process” in response to the yelling match.

Leavitt earlier told the New York Times that “it’s no secret President Trump has put together a team of people who are incredibly passionate about the issues impacting our country.”

The Times had previously reported that Bessent complained to Trump about Musk naming Gary Shapley – who has since been removed – acting director of the IRS without the Treasury secretary’s approval.

Shapley was replaced by Deputy Secretary of the Treasury Michael Faulkender, recommended by Bessent.

Axios reported, citing a source, that at a meeting in the White House on April 17, Bessent confronted Musk and "the F-word bombs started to fly."

Bessent reproached Musk for overpromising and failing to deliver on budget cuts with DOGE, while Musk fired back, labeling Bessent an "agent" of billionaire George Soros and accusing him of running "a failed hedge fund."

STAFF REPORTER