Trump described Musk as "tremendously successful" and commended him for making sacrifices to lead the agency. When asked about reports of discontent among Cabinet members regarding Musk's growing influence, Trump dismissed the concerns.
"Anybody unhappy with Elon?" Trump asked the room. "If you are, we'll throw them out of here." In response, key officials, including Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Attorney General Pam Bondi, quickly shook their heads.
The president insisted that his Cabinet respects Musk, saying, "Some may disagree a little, but overall, everyone is thrilled." Musk, in turn, praised Trump’s Cabinet as "the best ever," adding that the nation should appreciate their talents.
However, recent reports suggest growing tensions over Musk’s management style. CNN reported that Cabinet members and lawmakers were frustrated after Musk issued a directive requiring federal employees to email weekly updates on their work. The mandate reportedly caught many officials off guard and included threats of termination for noncompliance.
A senior White House official, speaking anonymously, told CNN, "A lot of agencies weren’t given a heads-up, which caused some headaches."
During Tuesday’s press briefing, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt denied that officials were blindsided. She pushed back against anonymous reports, saying, "The Cabinet secretaries have not said that."
Leavitt also defended the president’s support for Musk, insisting that "everyone is working as one team" and that Cabinet members had the right to withhold sensitive information in the interest of national security.
Despite the controversy, Trump and Musk appear to remain closely aligned, with the president making it clear that dissent within his administration will not be tolerated.