Elon Musk vs Marco Rubio: All about the showdown at Trump cabinet meet

Elon Musk reportedly accused Marco Rubio of not firing anyone in 45 days and hindering Musk's plans to reduce federal staff on a massive scale.

Updated on: Mar 8, 2025, 12:54:27 IST

By HT News Desk

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Billionaire entrepreneur and head of the DOGE, Elon Musk and US secretary of state, Marco Rubio, got into a dispute over staff cuts during a cabinet meeting presided by President Donald Trump on Thursday, reported The New York Times.

Elon Musk and Marco Rubio reportedly clashed during a cabinet meeting (AP, Reuters)

The issue came to a head when Donald Trump told his cabinet heads that they were responsible for taking the final call on staffing and policy in their respective agencies, and not Elon Musk, who operates as a White House advisor and head of the Department of Government Efficiency, reported Reuters.

Also Read: Trump's shoutout to Musk during 1st Congress address: ‘He didn’t need…'

However, earlier Trump made a contradictory statement saying that “Elon will do the cutting” if agency leaders didn’t reduce their spending.

During the cabinet meeting, Elon Musk reportedly accused Marco Rubio of not firing anyone in 45 days and hindering Musk's plans to reduce federal staff on a massive scale.

Also Read: Why did Trump name Zelensky, Melania, and Musk in his first speech to Congress?

Rubio hit back stating that 1,500 state department employees had taken early retirement buyouts. Further, as reported by The New York Times, he made a sarcastic remark about whether Elon Musk wished for people to be hired again just so he could make a show out of firing them.

The meeting was the result of several complaints regarding the Musk-led DOGE and its staff-cutting initiatives. Musk and senior officials in the Trump administration have been at loggerheads, with officials accusing his young team of Silicon Valley recruits to be exceeding their authority, reported AFP.

Also Read: Trump claims India has agreed to cut tariffs: ‘Somebody is finally exposing them’

After the meeting was adjourned, Trump announced that staff cuts would continue but with a "scalpel" rather than a "hatchet", implying that he would be taking into account concerns about Musk's approach.

However, when asked by reporters about the reported clash between Rubio and Musk, Donald Trump denied any tension between the two officials.

"No clash, I was there, you’re just a troublemaker. Elon gets along great with Marco and they’re both doing a fantastic job. Marco has done unbelievably as Secretary of State. And Elon is a unique guy and has done a fantastic job,” he said.

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HT News Desk
Follow the latest breaking news, major developments and agenda-setting stories from India and around the world with the newsdesk at Hindustan Times. Operating round the clock, the desk brings together experienced editors, reporters and correspondents to deliver fast, accurate and contextual reporting across subjects that influence public policy, governance, business, society and international affairs. The HT News Desk covers politics, elections, government policies, the economy, business and markets, science and technology, the environment, law and order, infrastructure, education, climate issues and geopolitics, while closely tracking developments across states, institutions and global capitals. The team also leads coverage of major breaking news events, policy announcements, court proceedings, natural disasters, public emergencies and significant international developments. Reports published by the newsdesk are based on information gathered from reporters on the ground, official statements, government agencies, court records, regulatory filings, recognised institutions and other authoritative sources. Stories undergo editorial scrutiny and verification processes to ensure accuracy, fairness and relevance, and are updated as events evolve and additional information becomes available. Whether covering a key political decision in New Delhi, an economic policy shift affecting millions, a landmark court ruling or a major global event, the HT News Desk aims to provide readers with reliable, fact-based journalism that delivers not only the latest developments but also the context and analysis needed to understand their wider implications.Read More

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