Elon Musk and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent had a heated argument at the White House after Elon Musk outmaneuvered Scott Bessent to persuade President Trump to appoint Gary Shapley (a former IRS agent and whistleblower on issues related to the Biden family) as the acting commissioner of the IRS. Meanwhile, Treasury Secretary Bessent, who also manages the IRS, wanted his deputy Michael Faulkender to take this position until Trump’s official nominee Billy Long is confirmed by the Senate.

The argument escalated in the West Wing, with witnesses describing loud shouting and vulgar language. A White House aide even had to intervene.

Musk allegedly accused Scott Bessent of being "Soros's henchman," referring to Bessent's background with the Key Square Group investment fund after previously working at Soros Fund Management, and related to a popular Jewish conspiracy theory that investor George Soros is the puppet master behind left-wing political activities in the U.S.

Scott Bessent criticized Elon Musk's cost-cutting efforts as mere empty talk with no real results.

The White House acknowledged that this incident occurred but stated that disagreements are a normal part of the policy-making process, while asserting that all personnel serve at the discretion of President Trump.