Elon Musk and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent had a heated debate 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 acting IRS commissioner. Meanwhile, Treasury Secretary Bessent, who manages the IRS, wanted his deputy, Michael Faulkender, to take on the 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 profanity. A White House aide even had to intervene.

Musk is reported to have accused Scott Bessent of being "Soros's henchman," alluding to Bessent's background with the Key Square Group investment fund after previously working at Soros Fund Management and being linked to a popular Jewish conspiracy theory suggesting 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 talk with no real results.

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