Two billionaire advisors to President Donald Trump engaged in a heated shouting match in the White House that triggered alarm in the building. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Elon Musk reportedly began shouting at each other during an argument according to a report from Axios reporter Marc Caputo, citing a source that said ‘the F bombs started to fly.’

‘It was two billionaire, middle-aged men thinking it was WWE in the hall of the West Wing,’ a witness said. The fight did not come to physical blows, but the news illustrated a growing power clash with Musk and members of Trump’s cabinet. ‘It was quite a scene. It was loud. And I mean, loud,’ another witness said. One aide felt it necessary to step between the two men to prevent the scene from escalating, the report noted.

News of the argument was first reported in the New York Times , as both officials disputed who was the best candidate to lead the IRS. Acting IRS commissioner Gary Shapley took the position after he was recommended by Musk but Bessent was not informed about the change. Days later, Trump replaced Shapley with Bessent’s choice Michael Faulkender. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt did not dispute the clash between the two advisors but told reporters Wednesday that it was part of a ‘healthy debate.’

‘Look, there are disagreements amongst the president’s staff and Cabinet sometimes, but we think that’s part of a healthy debate process and everybody knows that ultimately President Trump is the decision-maker,’ Leavitt said. Bessent has emerged as a growing influence in the administration despite Musk dismissing him as a ‘business-as-usual choice’ for Treasury Secretary and favoring Howard Lutnick for the job .

Trump ultimately chose Bessent, who has fought to control agencies under his purview. ‘What surprises a lot of people is Scott is so mild mannered. But he has his limits and he can roar,’ a Bessent supporter who was briefed on the argument said, adding that the Treasury Secretary ‘can’t stand’ Musk.

‘That goes pretty deep and pretty far back. But he’s acting like a grown-up about it,’ the source added. During the chaotic week of tariff announcements and the whipsaw gyrations of the stock market, Bessent helped stabilize the messaging environment surrounding the administration’s actions on trade, helping sooth markets.

Musk has already announced plans to step back from the administration, as his work on DOGE has affected the financial stability of his electric car company Tesla . The billionaire tried to sooth investors during an earning conference call on Tuesday. ‘ Starting probably in next month, in May , my time allocation to DOGE will drop significantly,’ Musk said on the call, adding he would only spend ‘one or two days’ advising the White House.

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