Source: Global Times
[Global Times Report, by Zhao Jiandong] According to a June 7 report by The Washington Post, Steve Bannon, former political advisor to President Trump, recently revealed that in mid-April, Treasury Secretary Bentsen and billionaire Musk, who was then the head of the government efficiency department, had a fierce argument and even got into a physical altercation outside the Oval Office. The cause of the conflict was a disagreement over the list of candidates for the acting director of the Internal Revenue Service when they submitted it to Trump. Trump ultimately supported Bentsen's candidate.
Treasury Secretary Bentsen and Musk, puzzle image source: US media
The report cited Bannon as saying that after Bentsen and Musk left the Oval Office, they argued in the corridor and insulted each other. Bentsen openly accused Musk of being "a complete liar," stating that he had failed to fulfill his duties. Emotionally charged, Musk then "collided with Bentsen's chest like a rugby player," and Bentsen immediately retaliated.
This physical altercation continued until the staff intervened at the door of the National Security Advisor's office, after which Musk was taken out of the West Wing of the White House. The Washington Post reported that Trump, upon learning about this incident, said, "This is too much."
About the conflict between Musk and Bentsen, US media had already leaked information about it previously. According to a April 23 report by Axios News Network, two eyewitnesses and three informed sources told the media that Musk, the head of the government efficiency department, and Treasury Secretary Bentsen had a heated argument over IRS-related issues on April 17 at the White House, even using coarse language, and at that time, President Trump and Italian Prime Minister Meloni, who was visiting the White House, could hear them.
Axios News Network also reported that during the presidential transition period after Trump was re-elected, the relationship between Musk and Bentsen was not good from the start. Musk had strongly recommended that Trump appoint Lutnik as the Treasury Secretary, but Trump eventually chose Bentsen and appointed Lutnik as the Commerce Secretary. After Trump officially took office, they clashed again over the appointment of Treasury Department personnel.
Original article: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7513382373346558518/
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