- The New York Times reported on a heated exchange between Elon Musk and Secretary of State Marco Rubio during a closed-door cabinet meeting, sparking conflicting narratives across the media. Left-leaning outlets highlight the chaos and alleged dysfunction while right-leaning outlets dismiss the claims as false and emphasize unity within the Trump administration.
- President Donald Trump and his administration denied reports of any feud, emphasizing that Musk and Rubio are both effectively carrying out their roles.
- Musk’s role as head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) is advisory. He assists agencies in cutting waste, but he does not have the power to directly fire employees or implement cuts.
Full Story
The New York Times published a report detailing an alleged heated exchange behind closed doors at a cabinet meeting Thursday, March 6. The report claims that tensions ran high between billionaire Elon Musk and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, with President Donald Trump present during the conflict. President Trump and others in the administration called the Times report false and said there was no feud.
How left-leaning media framed the story
The story sparked considerable debate across the political spectrum. On the left, several outlets have amplified the New York Times’ account of the clash.
- MSNBC: “Elon Musk and Marco Rubio Drama Spills Out in Explosive Meeting.”
- The Daily Beast: “Rubio Melts Down at Musk in Furious Shouting Match.”
- The Independent: “Marco Rubio unleashes his fury on Elon Musk in heated cabinet meeting, report says.”
News outlets on the left are framing the alleged confrontation as a sign of chaos and dysfunction within the Trump administration. Some commentators on left-leaning news outlets expressed concern about Musk’s influence.
“This is an insane way to run a government. And I think what you’re hearing and feeling is voters back home have had it up to here with this chaos and incompetence.”
Joe Walsh, MSNBC
“Elon Musk is an unelected man child running around with a pretend chainsaw playing at politics.”
SE Cupp, CNN
How right-leaning media framed the story
On the other side of the spectrum, news outlets with right-leaning perspectives in their coverage have dismissed the reports as false and exaggerated, citing Trump and Trump officials.
Fox News: “Karoline Leavitt Shuts Down ‘Pitiful’ Rubio-Musk Feud Rumors Fueled by Mainstream Media.”
The New York Post: “Trump defends relationship between Marco Rubio, Elon Musk following explosive Cabinet meeting: ‘FAKE NEWS.’”
The Epoch Times: “Trump Denies Musk-Rubio Feud, Calls It Fake News”
Both Trump and his officials have rejected the idea of any real conflict. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt emphasized that both Musk and Rubio are performing well in their respective roles, calling the media’s portrayal of discord “pitiful.”
Trump, in an exchange with NBC News, dismissed the reports outright, saying, “Elon gets along great with Marco, and they’re both doing a fantastic job. There is no clash.”
Some commentators on right-leaning news outlets dismissed left-leaning outlets’ account of discord.
“The media has never run a business, so they don’t know how to cover the Trump presidency. They cover it like a soap opera instead of a business. The press is trying to use that to drive a wedge between Musk and Trump.”
Jesse Watters, Fox News
“There is a president overseeing all of this where there is not really this craziness where the left is creating this antagonist.”
Jeanine Pirro, Fox News
What was inside The New York Times’ report?
The New York Times reported that during a cabinet meeting on March 6, tensions flared between Musk and Rubio in front of President Trump and around 20 others.
Marco Rubio was incensed. Here he was in the Cabinet Room of the White House, the secretary of state, seated beside the president and listening to a litany of attacks from the richest man in the world.
“Inside the Explosive Meeting Where Trump Officials Clashed With Elon Musk”
— The New York Times
The Times described a conflict between the two over Musk accusing Rubio of not slashing enough jobs, according to its sources.
“You have fired “nobody,’” Mr. Musk told Mr. Rubio. Mr. Rubio got his grievances off his chest. 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.
“Inside the Explosive Meeting Where Trump Officials Clashed With Elon Musk”
— The New York Times
The Times described it as a clash between Musk and Rubio discussing DOGE and cuts.
Mr. Musk was unimpressed. He told Mr. Rubio he was “good on TV,” with the clear subtext being that he was not good for much else.
“Inside the Explosive Meeting Where Trump Officials Clashed With Elon Musk”
— The New York Times
Who did the New York Times speak to?
The New York Times cited five anonymous sources “with knowledge of the events” but did not clarify whether these individuals were directly present at the meeting or reporting second-hand accounts.
“This account is based on interviews with five people with knowledge of the events,” The Times wrote.
AllSides, a media watchdog group, discusses the risk of anonymous sources under its example of media bias by omission of source attribution.
It is sometimes useful or necessary to use anonymous sources, because insider information is only available if the reporter agrees to keep their identity secret. But responsible journalists should be aware and make it clear that they are offering second-hand information on sensitive matters. This fact doesn’t necessarily make the statements false, but it does make them less than reliable.
AllSides 16 Types of Media Bias
Trump Administration’s push to downsize government
Amidst the media frenzy, the underlying issue remains the Trump administration’s ongoing efforts to downsize the federal government. A key player in this initiative is Elon Musk, who leads the Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE.
DOGE is not a government department but rather an advisory body created through an executive order.
Each government agency was instructed to form a “DOGE team.” Each team consists of at least four employees. These employees are responsible for thoroughly vetting the agency’s systems and providing recommendations to agency heads. They advise how to best implement DOGE strategies to reduce waste and improve efficiency.
Can Elon Musk fire government workers?
Musk does not have the authority to directly fire employees or cut programs. Instead, DOGE serves an advisory role, offering recommendations for cost-cutting and efficiency improvements.
Trump, during the cabinet meeting, reportedly reiterated that Musk’s role is to advise and cabinet secretaries oversee cuts and layoffs. As part of the DOGE initiative, Musk’s team has been helping federal agencies vet their systems and suggest cuts. However, it’s ultimately up to agency heads to implement the changes.
For instance, Rubio’s control over USAID has seen significant program cuts, with DOGE providing a six-week review that supported these decisions. Other agency heads, such as Lee Zeldin of the EPA, have also embraced DOGE’s suggestions to cancel grants and save billions.
DOGE has made errors, layoff recommendations reversed
Reports surfaced that some cuts recommended by DOGE have been rescinded, including layoffs within the Department of Energy and Agriculture. Moreover, some savings claims made by DOGE were later adjusted.
There have been retractions regarding DOGE’s recommendations. Certain actions were reversed after implementation, such as hundreds of federal firings being rescinded. This includes employees from the Energy Department working on nuclear programs and staff from the Department of Agriculture involved in responding to bird flu outbreaks.
Additionally, DOGE walked back some of its reported savings. The agency mistakenly duplicated a $655 million cut from USAID. DOGE also initially accounted for a $232 million saving through a Social Security-Leidos contract that it believed was fully canceled.
However, the SSA only cut a portion of the contract, not the entire $232 million. These updates have now been reflected on the DOGE website. Elon Musk acknowledged that DOGE “will make mistakes” but assured that they would be “quickly” addressed.
Future legislative efforts to codify DOGE-inspired cuts
Congressional Republicans, including Sen. Rand Paul, have been meeting with Musk. They hope to pass a “rescission package” to solidify these cost-saving efforts into law. They believe this will provide a more permanent solution to the Trump administration’s push for government efficiency.
Conclusion: The bigger picture
While media coverage of the alleged Musk-Rubio clash may be emotionally charged, the facts point to a broader initiative: the Trump administration’s drive to reduce government waste. Musk’s role in leading DOGE is considered crucial but limited, as his team advises rather than dictates the decisions.
As the administration continues to implement cuts, the next step could be potential action from Congress to codify these efforts into law. Just as Senate Republicans met with Musk on Wednesday, March 5, Musk was seen meeting with House Republicans on Monday, March 10.
The media’s portrayal of the story, whether from the left or right, has been shaped by political biases.
- Left-leaning outlets focus on chaos, tension, errors and the Times report of dysfunction within the Trump administration, emphasizing the alleged feud between Musk and Rubio.
- Right-leaning outlets defend the Trump administration, dismiss the reports of discord and stress the successes of DOGE.
To see more Bias Breakdown, click here.
