Elon Musk lost power fast after Trump rejected his tariff complaints

According to The Washington Post, the fight between Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Elon Musk wasn’t just rumors. It happened inside the White House in April. After weeks of rising tension between the two men, things exploded when they clashed over who should take over as acting IRS commissioner. Trump sided with Scott, and that pushed Musk over the edge.

Right after leaving the Oval Office, Elon and Scott started throwing insults down the West Wing hallway. Steve Bannon later explained what went down. “Scott said, ‘You’re a fraud. You’re a total fraud,’” Bannon said.

That was about Elon’s repeated claims that he’d recover over $1 trillion in government waste—a promise he’d failed to deliver. Elon responded by slamming his shoulder into Scott’s ribs like they were in some NFL locker room. Scott hit him back. The brawl ended when staff intervened and pushed Elon out of the building.

Elon Musk lost power fast after Trump rejected his tariff complaints

Before the fight, Elon’s influence in Washington was already falling apart. He came in January as a major Trump ally, even sleeping in the Lincoln Bedroom. He had power, and his DOGE agency had been cutting budgets, firing staff, and dismantling programs like USAID.

But inside the administration, Elon was viewed as reckless. He didn’t understand how government worked. In February, he sent an email to federal workers—including judges—asking for lists of their accomplishments. The email shocked officials. Many said it proved Elon was totally unfit for government.

Still, Trump and Stephen Miller stood by him. But others, like Susie Wiles, were tired of the chaos. The public wasn’t buying Musk’s moves either. Protests spread. Signs saying “No one voted for Elon Musk” showed up at rallies.

Then came the Wisconsin Supreme Court race. Elon pumped money into a pro-Trump candidate. That candidate lost badly. It was a warning to Republicans that Elon had become a problem, not an asset.

On April 2, Trump dropped new tariffs. Elon blasted the move on X, calling Peter Navarro “a moron.” He pleaded with Trump to reverse the tariffs. Trump ignored him. The markets took a hit, and Elon lost face inside the White House. That week of failure led right into his blow-up with Scott.

Administration figures moved to cut Musk out for good

After the brawl, Elon said he was stepping back to focus on Tesla. He told his people he’d still manage DOGE remotely. But his opponents weren’t done. Jared Isaacman—Elon’s NASA pick—was supposed to help push Elon’s Mars goals. But Jared had donated to Democrats. That became a problem in a White House obsessed with loyalty.

Sergio Gor, director of presidential personnel, gave Trump paperwork showing Jared’s donations. Trump killed the nomination immediately. It wasn’t random. Elon believed Sergio had leaked damaging stories about him to The New York Times. The two had clashed over staff picks for months. Sergio wanted revenge, and he got it.

Steven Cheung defended the move, saying, “Sergio is a vital member of the team, and he has helped President Trump put together an Administration that is second to none.”

Meanwhile, Fox host Maria Bartiromo brought the story out on national TV. She asked Karoline Leavitt if Elon really hit Scott inside the White House. “Did he body-check the Treasury Secretary?” she asked. Karoline laughed and said, “There are healthy disagreements amongst the Cabinet and Elon Musk.” But Maria kept pushing. “Was there a fistfight?”

Karoline responded, “I certainly wouldn’t describe it as a fistfight, Maria. It was definitely a disagreement. Although I was not there, I didn’t witness it with my own eyes. I heard about it through secondhand reporting.”

Trump himself stayed mostly quiet. Behind closed doors, though, he was furious. He called Elon “a big-time drug addict,” pointing to reports that Musk was taking ketamine and Adderall. The New York Times had reported that Musk’s ketamine use was so heavy he said it affected his bladder. People inside the White House said Trump didn’t want more public drama, so he told JD Vance and others to stay quiet. But the damage was done.

Trump also went online, using Truth Social to demand more scrutiny on Elon’s government contracts. Republicans began to worry Elon might retaliate with his cash or even start a third political party.

Senator Ted Cruz said the situation made him feel like a child of divorce. “I really wish Mommy and Daddy would stop screaming,” he said on his podcast.

By late April, Elon had no real power left in D.C. His White House support vanished. His NASA dream was dead. And his brawl with Scott was the last thing holding everyone’s attention.

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