During a tense moment at the White House, Donald Trump shut down a reporter when asked about Elon Musk and Marco Rubio.
Donald Trump abruptly cut off a reporter when asked about Elon Musk and Marco Rubio.
The tense exchange happened during a White House event on March 7.
Trump’s response to questions about Musk and Rubio
The incident occurred during a press briefing on March 7. Donald Trump abruptly cut off a reporter who questioned him about Elon Musk and Marco Rubio.
According to reports, tensions have been rising between Musk and Rubio.
The New York Post claims that Rubio, the United States Secretary of State, had a heated exchange with Musk at the White House on March 6.
Musk, who leads the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), allegedly criticized Rubio for failing to reduce staff numbers.
While, reports also suggest that Rubio has been frustrated with Musk ever since DOGE shut down an agency under Rubio’s control.
Trump’s reaction to the journalist’s question
During a press conference, NBC journalist Gabe Gutierrez asked Trump about the reported conflict. However, Trump quickly dismissed the question.
“No clash. I was there. You’re just a troublemaker,” Trump said.
He continued, “You’re not supposed to be asking that question because we’re talking about the World Cup.
Elon gets along great with Marco, and they’re both doing a fantastic job. There is no clash.”
Trump then asked Gutierrez which news outlet he represented. Upon hearing “NBC,” Trump replied, “Ugh, no wonder. That’s enough. NBC.”
Trump’s take on the meeting
Despite reports of tension, Trump described the meeting as “very positive.”
On Truth Social, he wrote, “We just had a meeting with most of the Secretaries, Elon, and others, and it was a very positive one.”
Additionally, he also emphasized the importance of balancing cost-cutting with retaining valuable employees.
He continued: “We’re going to have these meetings every two weeks until this necessary job is done.”
Trump concluded by saying, “The relationships between everybody in that room are extraordinary. They all want to get to the exact same place—to MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!”
DOGE’s reported financial impact
Trump also praised DOGE for its financial achievements.
According to the department, it has saved an estimated $105 billion as of March 5. This marks a significant increase from the $65 billion reported on February 24.
However, some reports question the accuracy of these figures.
The New York Times has claimed that the DOGE website contains multiple errors and unverified claims.
While Trump insists there is no conflict, speculation continues.
Additionally, the alleged dispute between Musk and Rubio raises questions about government efficiency and transparency.
Whether the reported savings are legitimate remains uncertain. As the situation develops, the public awaits further clarification from officials.