Elon Musk and Secretary of State Marco Rubio engaged in heated argument during Cabinet meeting

Elon Musk and Secretary of State Marco Rubio engaged in heated argument last week .

At the heart of the argument was the efforts made by the Musk-led Department of Government Efficiency ( DOGE ) in laying off masses of federal employees.

Musk charged Rubio by saying that he had not fired anyone from his Cabinet staff, and “scornfully” added that perhaps the only person Rubio laid off was a DOGE employee.

Rubio retaliated by asking whether the 1,500 State Department officials who took early retirement in buyouts did not count as layoffs.

President Trump intervened in the conversation after the argument went on for an “uncomfortable” amount of time.

As the Secretaries learn about, and understand, the people working for the various Departments , they can be very precise as to who will remain, and who will go. We say the “scalpel” rather than the “hatchet.” The combination of them, Elon , DOGE , and other great people will be able to do things at a historic level.” “I want the numbers but I also want to keep the good people,” the president explained to reporters in the Oval Office ..