‘You’re Just A Troublemaker’: President Trump Scolds Reporter For Question About Rubio And Musk

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Reports surfaced this week that Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Department of Government Efficiency head Elon Musk became combative during a recent White House Cabinet meeting.

When President Donald Trump was asked about those reports, however, he quickly dismissed them and chastised the reporter for his question.

As The Hill reported:

NBC News’s Gabe Gutierrez asked Trump in the Oval Office about the details that have come out on the Cabinet meeting, citing reporting of clashes between Musk and Rubio.

“No clash. I was there — you’re just a troublemaker,” the president said. “And 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 added, asking Gutierrez what outlet he works for.

“NBC,” Gutierrez said.

“Oh, no wonder,” Trump said.

News of the alleged dispute fueled significant social media commentary and speculation:

Here’s how one journalist reacted to the initial report from The New York Times:

The following is a full transcript of the above post:

However truthful this report is, it is the most entertaining thing I’ve read all week. 👀

Rubio and Musk have mini-argument during Cabinet meeting

“You have fired “nobody,” Mr. Musk told Mr. Rubio, then scornfully added that perhaps the only person he had fired was a staff member from his Department of Government Efficiency.”

“Mr. Musk was not being truthful, Mr. Rubio said. What about the more than 1,500 State Department officials who took early retirement in buyouts? Didn’t they count as layoffs? He asked, sarcastically, whether Mr. Musk wanted him to rehire all those people just so he could make a show of firing them again. Then he laid out his detailed plans for reorganizing the State Department.”

“Mr. Musk was unimpressed. He told Mr. Rubio he was “good on TV,” with the clear subtext being that he wasn’t good for much else. Throughout all of this, the president sat back in his chair, arms folded, as if he were watching a tennis match.”

“After the argument dragged on for an uncomfortable time, Mr. Trump finally intervened to defend Mr. Rubio as doing a “great job.” Mr. Rubio has a lot to deal with, the president said. He is very busy, he is always traveling and on TV, and he has an agency to run. So everyone just needs to work together.”

From the NYT.

Remember they’re probably playing up truly how much of a “spat” this was. I don’t doubt that
@ElonMusk, however, brought up his urgency for speeding up firings in the meeting. The notion that the entire Cabinet is “furious” with Elon, though, is the sensational part here, IMO.

Fox News also reported on the alleged argument:

Reporting from The New York Times suggested that on Thursday, Department of Government Efficiency head Elon Musk went after Secretary of State Marco Rubio during a cabinet meeting for not firing enough people in USAID, an agency over which the latter has purview.

Rubio, according to The Times, angrily responded that the over 1,500 State Department officials who took the Trump buyouts should be considered layoffs.

After Trump signed an executive order to create the White House Task Force for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the Oval Office Friday, NBC News’ Gabe Gutierrez tried to ask about Musk and Rubio.

“Some details have come out about your cabinet meeting with Elon Musk, and some clashes potentially between Secretary Rubio,” he began.

Trump interrupted, responding that a clash never happened.

Here’s a clip of the interaction between Trump and Gutierrez:



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