US president denies officials' clash over government cuts

US President Donald Trump denied media reports of a confrontation between Secretary of State Marco Rubio and billionaire Elon Musk over sweeping government staff cuts.

“No clash, I was there.” He added, “Elon gets along great with Marco, and they’re both doing a fantastic job. There is no clash,” Trump firmly stated, speaking to reporters, Caliber.Az reports per foreign media.

The controversy stems from a meeting on March 6, where Musk, who heads the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), reportedly faced opposition from several top officials, including Rubio and Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, regarding his aggressive approach to cutting federal jobs.

Tensions arose during the meeting, with Musk’s “hacksaw” methods being criticized for their lack of coordination and the potential negative consequences. Rubio, in particular, confronted Musk about targeting the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), questioning Musk’s assertion that the State Department was not downsizing staff, referencing early retirement buyouts as evidence to the contrary.

Musk, however, dismissed Rubio’s concerns, accusing him of being “good on TV” but ineffective. Trump, who was present during the meeting, intervened, defending Rubio and reiterating his support for the Secretary of State’s work. “He’s doing a great job,” Trump said, emphasizing the importance of collaboration and acknowledging Rubio's heavy workload.

In a separate part of the meeting, Duffy raised concerns about the potential layoffs of air traffic controllers, expressing worry about the safety implications. “I have multiple plane crashes to deal with now, and your people want me to fire air traffic controllers?” Duffy reportedly asked.

Despite the reported tension, Duffy later described the meeting as "productive," praising Musk's leadership. “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 work.

Secretary of Veterans Affairs Doug Collins also raised concerns, fearing that cuts could alienate veterans, a key constituency for Trump.

In response to the growing criticism, Trump signaled a shift in approach. He stated that a more strategic, measured approach would be taken, using a “scalpel” rather than a “hatchet” to implement the cuts. He further emphasized that Cabinet secretaries would take the lead, with Musk’s team in an advisory capacity.

Musk, however, stood by his methods, citing his success in building billion-dollar companies and his expertise in efficiency. “We’re making it work,” Musk said, defending the efficiency-driven approach.

White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt called the meeting “productive,” while State Department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce described it as an “open and productive discussion.” Meanwhile, a Veterans Affairs spokesman highlighted the need to balance efficiency with maintaining productive employees.

Despite the controversies surrounding Musk’s role in streamlining government operations, he defended his approach, emphasizing his success in the private sector and the need for governmental reform.

Musk's leadership of DOGE has drawn mixed reactions, with some critics questioning whether his private-sector methods are suited for public administration, especially with the potential for widespread layoffs and unclear criteria for the cuts.

By Vafa Guliyeva