Sat Mar 08 02:19:25 UTC 2025: ## Trump Denies Musk-Rubio White House Clash Amidst Government Cost-Cutting Disputes
**Washington, D.C. – March 8, 2025** – U.S. President Donald Trump has denied reports of a heated clash between his senior advisor, Elon Musk, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio during a recent White House cabinet meeting. The *New York Times* reported that Musk, head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), engaged in tense arguments with both Rubio and Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy over cost-cutting measures.
Musk reportedly criticized Rubio’s cost-cutting efforts at the State Department, questioning the low number of dismissals. Rubio countered that 1,500 officials had accepted early retirement. A separate dispute arose with Duffy after DOGE attempted to fire air traffic controllers amidst recent plane crashes, a move Duffy described as reckless.
Following the meeting, President Trump announced that cost-cutting would continue, but with a more measured approach. When questioned about the reported disputes, Trump dismissed them, stating that no clash occurred and that both Musk and Rubio were performing exceptionally well. He even suggested hiring air traffic controllers from MIT to address Duffy’s concerns.
The Trump administration has undertaken a sweeping effort to reduce government spending, resulting in the dismissal or departure of tens of thousands of federal employees. Reports of friction between Musk and other senior officials have surfaced, with accusations that Musk’s DOGE team overstepped its authority.
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