US President Donald Trump on Friday dismissed media reports suggesting a dispute between Elon Musk and top US officials, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio. "No clash, I was there, you're just a troublemaker," Trump told a reporter at the White House when asked about the alleged tensions. "Elon gets along great with Marco, and they're both doing a fantastic job," he added. The New York Times had reported that a Thursday meeting between Musk and senior officials exposed significant friction regarding the scale and methods of government staff reductions. Musk, who leads the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), reportedly clashed with Cabinet members, including Rubio and Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, over his aggressive approach to cutting federal jobs. The meeting reportedly revealed disagreements about Musk's sweeping cost-cutting measures, with some officials expressing concern over the lack of coordination and potential repercussions. Rubio challenged Musk on his targeting of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and his assertion that the State Department was not reducing staff, pointing to early retirement buyouts as evidence to the contrary. Musk dismissed Rubio's concerns, accusing him of being "good on TV" but ineffective. Trump initially observed the debate before stepping in to defend Rubio, later commending his performance and emphasizing the importance of teamwork, given Rubio's demanding schedule and responsibilities. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy reportedly raised alarms about potential layoffs of air traffic controllers, questioning the feasibility of such reductions. "I have multiple plane crashes to deal with now, and your people want me to fire air traffic controllers?" he reportedly asked. Despite reports of disagreements, Duffy later characterized the meeting as "productive." "It's difficult to express just what a change it is to have such a fully engaged and in-command businessman at the helm leading our nation," he wrote on X, praising DOGE's efforts. Veterans Affairs Secretary Doug Collins also expressed concern that deep staffing cuts could alienate veterans, a key constituency for Trump. In response to these concerns, Trump suggested a shift toward a more strategic approach, advocating for a "scalpel" rather than a "hatchet" in staff reductions. He announced that Cabinet secretaries would now oversee the implementation of cuts, with Musk's team taking on an advisory role. Musk defended his approach, citing his success in building billion-dollar companies and his expertise in streamlining operations. White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt described the meeting as "productive," while State Department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce called it an "open and productive discussion." A Veterans Affairs spokesperson also emphasized the need to balance efficiency with retaining productive employees. Musk reiterated that the meeting was "very productive," despite ongoing controversy over his role in government restructuring. Critics argue that his private-sector methods may not be suitable for public administration, raising concerns about the criteria used for mass layoffs. — Agencies
