A heated argument erupted between U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and billionaire businessman and White House advisor Elon Musk during a cabinet meeting on Thursday, with President Donald Trump in attendance. According to the New York Times, the dispute was centered around recent staff cuts at the State Department.
Fiery Debate in the Meeting
President Trump had tasked Musk with the colossal responsibility of slashing federal bureaucracy. During the meeting, Musk alleged that Rubio had failed to 'remove anyone' and opposed Musk's efforts for drastic staff reductions.
In a satirical retort, Rubio mentioned that 1,500 employees of the State Department had opted for early retirement packages. 'Does Musk want me to rehire them just to theatrically fire them again?' he questioned cynically.
Meeting Called Post Complaints
The meeting was convened in response to grievances from top White House officials where heads of governmental agencies expressed dissatisfaction with Musk's reduction strategies. In recent days, the White House Office of Legislative Affairs has received numerous complaints from disgruntled Republican members facing voter anger in their districts.
Trump Dismisses Report
During a press conference in the Oval Office on Friday, President Trump dismissed the New York Times report. When questioned by a journalist, he asserted, 'There was no fight. I was there. You are exaggerating without cause. Elon and Marco are fine, both executing exemplary work.' President Trump praised, 'Marco has done incredible work as Secretary of State, and Elon is a unique individual, achieving remarkable success.'
