Donald Trump didn’t hesitate to shut down an NBC News reporter after he asked about a controversial cabinet meeting involving Elon Musk and Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
The interaction unfolded on Friday, right after Trump had signed an executive order to create a White House Task Force for the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Trump’s Immediate Response to the Question
As the reporter, Gabe Gutierrez, tried to bring up the alleged clash between Musk and Rubio, Trump quickly interrupted him.
“No clash. I was there – you’re just a troublemaker,” Trump responded. “
And you’re not supposed to be asking that question, because we’re talking about the World Cup.”
Trump didn’t stop there. He went on to praise both Musk and Rubio, saying, “Elon gets along great with Marco, and they’re both doing a fantastic job. There is no clash.”
In his usual combative style, Trump then turned the conversation away from the topic at hand, asking, “Which outlet are you with?” When Gutierrez replied that he was with NBC, Trump shot back dismissively, “Ugh, no wonder,” before turning his back and concluding, “That’s enough. NBC.”
The New York Times Report and the Heated Cabinet Meeting
This fiery exchange between Trump and Gutierrez followed a bombshell report from The New York Times that revealed a heated argument between Musk and Rubio during a cabinet meeting just the day before.
According to the report, Musk accused Rubio of not firing enough employees at the US Agency for International Development (USAID), which falls under the State Department’s jurisdiction.
“You have fired nobody,” Musk reportedly told Rubio, even mocking him by suggesting that the only person Rubio had fired was one of Musk’s own appointees.
Rubio Fires Back at Musk’s Criticism
Rubio, who had been growing increasingly frustrated with Musk’s aggressive approach, didn’t back down.
He responded by pointing out that over 1,500 State Department officials had already taken buyouts as part of Trump’s federal workforce reduction initiative.
With sarcasm, Rubio asked Musk if he expected him to rehire those employees just to fire them again.
Trump, who was present during the exchange, simply watched the tension unfold with his arms crossed.
After some time, he intervened, offering praise for both men’s efforts. “Marco has a lot to deal with.
He’s very busy, he’s always traveling and on TV, and he has an agency to run. Everyone just needs to work together,” Trump said.
A Turning Point in Trump’s Second Term
This meeting marked a key moment in Trump’s second term.
It was reportedly the first time Trump addressed Musk’s growing controversial role in government cost-cutting.
While Trump had previously been a strong supporter of Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) initiative, the president acknowledged that future cuts needed to be done more carefully, stating that they needed a “scalpel, not a hatchet.”
Musk’s approach to cost-cutting – firing thousands of federal employees across various agencies – had earned him criticism, even within Trump’s inner circle.
This clash within the cabinet highlighted the growing divide between those who support Musk’s drastic measures and those who are concerned about the long-term consequences of his actions.
Confrontation Over Air Traffic Controller Cuts
The tensions didn’t end there. During the same cabinet meeting, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy confronted Musk over reports that his team was attempting to cut air traffic controllers.
Duffy warned that such cuts could lead to more aviation disasters.
“What am I supposed to do? I have multiple plane crashes to deal with now, and your people want me to fire air traffic controllers?” Duffy said, addressing Musk directly.
Musk, denying the accusation, responded with a challenge, demanding, “Give me their names.
Tell me their names.”
Duffy stood his ground, insisting that the proposed layoffs had been blocked before they could take effect.
This confrontation underscored the growing tension and division within Trump’s cabinet over the issue of cost-cutting, as the debate over Musk’s aggressive measures continues to unfold.