Trump Denies Reported Musk–Rubio Feud, Calls It Fake News

The comments were directed at New York Times reporting on a purported heated Musk–Rubio dispute.
Trump Denies Reported Musk–Rubio Feud, Calls It Fake News
President Donald Trump listens during a Cabinet meeting at the White House on Feb. 26, 2025, as Secretary of State Marco Rubio (L) and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth (R) listen. Pool via AP
Tom Ozimek
Tom Ozimek
Reporter
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President Donald Trump on March 8 denied reports that tech entrepreneur Elon Musk and Secretary of State Marco Rubio clashed during a recent Cabinet meeting, calling the claims “fake news” and insisting the two have a “great relationship.”

The New York Times had reported that Musk and Rubio engaged in a heated exchange during a Cabinet meeting on Feb. 26 over workforce reductions at the State Department. The dispute allegedly stemmed from Rubio’s reluctance to fire employees despite advice to do so from Musk and the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), which Musk oversees in his role as a special government employee.
Tom Ozimek
Tom Ozimek
Reporter
Tom Ozimek is a senior reporter for The Epoch Times. He has a broad background in journalism, deposit insurance, marketing and communications, and adult education.
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