According to a report by Axios News Network on April 23 local time, sources said that on April 17 local time, Musk, the head of the "Department of Government Efficiency" (DOGE) of the United States, and US Treasury Secretary Beasant had a fierce quarrel over the acting director of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) at the White House, even using foul language. It is said that then-US President Trump also heard it.

In response, White House Press Secretary Caroline Leavitt did not deny it, saying, "Trump formed a team passionate about issues affecting our country, and this is no secret."

The above picture shows Musk, and the following picture shows Beasant, from foreign media.

Two eyewitnesses and three知情人士 told Axios that on April 17 local time, Musk and Beasant had a fierce quarrel over the acting director of the IRS in front of Trump and other White House officials.

Currently, the IRS website shows that the acting director of the department is Michael Furekend, the deputy secretary of the US Treasury.

Previously, Trump appointed Gary Sharpless, recommended by Musk, for this position, but Sharpless was removed only three days after his appointment. Beasant has been hoping that Furekend could serve as the acting director of the IRS, and had lobbied Trump to appoint Furekend, feeling angry that Musk acted around him and caused trouble.

A witness who recalled the quarrel on April 17 said, "They didn't fight physically in the Oval Office, but the president saw it, and then they went out into the hallway to argue."

Another witness said, "That was quite a scene, very loud, very noisy."

Insiders said that foul language began to fly at that moment.

It was reported that Beasant criticized Musk for making excessive promises regarding the DOGE budget cuts but failing to deliver. Musk rebutted by calling Beasant "Soros' agent" and accused him of running a "failed hedge fund."

It is known that before joining the Trump administration, Beasant was a hedge fund manager and worked under financial tycoon George Soros.

The report described the argument as so intense that an assistant intervened to separate the two.

When asked about the argument, Leavitt referred to her previous response to the dispute between Musk and Beasant over the selection of the acting director of the IRS, saying, "Trump formed a team passionate about issues affecting our country, and this is no secret."

"Disagreements are a normal part of any healthy policy-making process," Leavitt said, "and ultimately, everyone knows they are serving Trump."

Musk and Beasant's sides declined to comment.

Previously, Musk and Beasant did not have a good relationship. During the presidential transition period after Trump was re-elected, Musk had tried to lobby Trump to appoint Lutnick as the treasury secretary, but Trump chose Beasant and appointed Lutnick as the commerce secretary.

Later, the two had conflicts again in the personnel appointments at the Treasury Department. A US government official familiar with the situation said, "This struggle is not about right or wrong, but about control."

Musk also had a public quarrel with Trump's chief trade advisor, Navarro, over tariff issues. Navarro called Musk "just an auto assembler," and Musk called Navarro "stupid egghead" and "dumber than a bag of bricks."

Leavitt responded at the time, "Boys will be boys, we'll let their public arguments continue."

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Original source: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7496752278708273699/

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