Musk Slams Rubio, Says He's 'Just Good on TV'

Rubio and Musk Clash in Heated Cabinet Meeting

A fiery exchange erupted between Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Elon Musk during a Cabinet meeting on Thursday, March 6, as tensions boiled over regarding Musk's role in the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). 
According to The New York Times, the dispute centered on Musk's accusation that Rubio had failed to fire State Department employees in accordance with DOGE mandates. Rubio, who has been privately frustrated with Musk for weeks over the dismantling of USAID, fired back by highlighting that 1,500 State Department employees had already accepted early buyouts — mocking DOGE's handling of workforce reductions. 
The back-and-forth reportedly became "uncomfortable" as Rubio sarcastically questioned if he should rehire the employees only to fire them again.
Here's what happened. 
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Musk Dismisses Rubio's Leadership

As the argument continued, Musk escalated tensions by belittling Rubio's effectiveness, reportedly telling him he was "just good on TV." This jab reportedly only added fuel to the already heated dispute. 
Musk's push for aggressive budget cuts and workforce reductions through DOGE has faced resistance from various Cabinet officials, and the latest clash with Rubio highlights the growing friction between his efficiency measures and traditional government operations. 
While Musk has been a key figure in President Donald Trump's initiative to overhaul the federal government, this latest public confrontation suggests that even within Trump's inner circle, frustrations with the billionaire's approach are mounting.

Trump Intervenes and Reduces Musk's Power

President Trump, who had been watching the exchange silently, finally stepped in to de-escalate the situation. Trump praised Rubio, calling him a "great" Secretary of State who has "a lot" on his plate. The president then made a notable decision — while affirming his continued support for Musk's efficiency efforts, he clarified that final decisions regarding federal firings would be left to Cabinet members, with Musk and DOGE only serving in an advisory role. 
This move appeared to curb some of Musk's authority, signaling that his influence over government restructuring may not be as unchecked as previously thought.

Rubio, Musk and the White House Downplay the Dispute

Following the reported blow-up, all parties involved attempted to present a united front. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt described the meeting as "great and productive," emphasizing that "everyone is working as one team to help President Trump deliver on his promise to make our government more efficient." 
Similarly, State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce told the outlet that the discussion was "open and productive" and praised the "dynamic team." 
Musk also took to X to label the meeting "very productive," suggesting that despite the heated argument, the administration wants to project an image of unity moving forward.

DOGE Faces Legal and Ethical Scrutiny Amid Workforce Cuts

Musk's ongoing efforts to slash government spending through DOGE remain under fire. A coalition of 20 state attorneys general has filed a lawsuit against the administration, accusing it of illegally terminating tens of thousands of probationary employees without proper notice. 
Meanwhile, reports suggest that some DOGE staffers have converted at least four rooms in the General Services Administration building into makeshift sleeping quarters, complete with IKEA beds, lamps and dressers. 
With some of these employees earning six-figure salaries, questions about the department's ethics and execution of budget-cutting measures continue to surface adding to the growing controversy surrounding Musk's role in the administration.