In a heated exchange on Friday, President Donald Trump didn’t hold back when NBC News reporter Gabe Gutierrez tried to press him about a controversial cabinet meeting involving Elon Musk and Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
This confrontation unfolded shortly after Trump signed an executive order to establish a White House Task Force for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Trump Dismisses Claims of Musk-Rubio Clash
As Gutierrez tried to ask about the alleged tension between Musk and Rubio during Thursday’s closed-door meeting, Trump quickly shut him down. “No clash.
I was there – you’re just a troublemaker,” Trump snapped, adding, “You’re not supposed to be asking that question because we’re talking about the World Cup.”
Trump then dismissed the inquiry, assuring that Musk and Rubio were getting along well, and both were “doing a fantastic job.”
The president, always quick with a retort, swiftly turned the spotlight back on the reporter: “Which outlet are you with?”
When Gutierrez answered “NBC,” Trump responded with his characteristic disdain, saying, “Ugh, no wonder,” before dismissing him with a sharp, “That’s enough. NBC.”
Behind the Tension: Musk and Rubio’s Heated Exchange
The tension between Musk and Rubio reportedly began the day before during a fiery cabinet meeting.
According to a bombshell report from The New York Times, Musk confronted Rubio over his failure to make significant staff cuts at the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), a department under the State Department’s control.
Musk allegedly accused Rubio of not firing enough employees, even mocking him for only firing a Musk-appointed staffer.
Rubio, who had been upset with Musk’s constant demands, fired back, pointing out that more than 1,500 State Department officials had already taken buyouts under Trump’s workforce reduction initiative.
Rubio sarcastically asked if Musk wanted him to rehire those employees just to fire them again.
Trump, who was present during the exchange, reportedly watched the argument unfold without intervening at first.
But as tensions rose, the president stepped in, attempting to calm the situation by praising both men for their hard work.
He acknowledged Rubio’s hectic schedule, emphasizing the need for collaboration.
A Divided Cabinet and Growing Tensions
This meeting was a significant moment in Trump’s second term, reflecting the rising tensions within his administration.
While Musk had been a loyal ally, particularly with his Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) initiative, his aggressive approach to federal cost-cutting had begun to stir controversy.
Musk’s sweeping cuts, including firing thousands across various agencies, had made him a polarizing figure, even among Trump’s closest allies.
The cabinet meeting also saw Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy confront Musk over proposed layoffs of air traffic controllers.
Duffy warned that reducing the number of controllers could lead to more aviation disasters.
Musk denied the claims but demanded that Duffy provide the names of those pushing for the cuts.
Duffy held firm, stating that the proposed layoffs had already been blocked.
Despite the president’s previous support of Musk, the clash highlighted a growing divide in the administration between those who back Musk’s drastic cuts and those who fear the potential consequences of dismantling federal agencies too quickly.