Trump declared he would “throw out” any Cabinet members who don’t respect Elon Musk, highlighting Musk’s growing influence in his administration. 🚨🔥

 

Rekha (@rekha16.bsky.social) — Bluesky

 

In a dramatic and unexpected moment during his first Cabinet meeting, President Donald Trump made it crystal clear where his loyalties lie—declaring that any member of his administration who does not respect Elon Musk will be “thrown out.”

The statement, made in front of the press, quickly ignited debate over Musk’s expanding influence in Washington and his role in reshaping the federal government.

Musk, the billionaire CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, and now a key figure in Trump’s administration through his leadership of DOGE, has been at the center of controversy since taking on the role.

The agency, which Musk claims has “saved American taxpayers $65 billion” by aggressively slashing jobs and programs, has drawn both praise and criticism.

During the meeting, Trump was asked by a reporter about whispers that some Cabinet members were growing increasingly frustrated with Musk’s power and tactics.

Instead of dodging the question, Trump turned to his team and fired back: “Let the Cabinet speak for a second. Anybody unhappy with Elon? If you are, we’ll throw them out of here. Anybody unhappy?”

The room, filled with high-ranking officials including Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Attorney General Pam Bondi, remained silent as they quickly shook their heads.

Trump then doubled down, insisting his team had “a lot of respect” for Musk, even if there were some minor disagreements. “For the most part, I think everyone is not only happy—they’re thrilled,” he added.

 

cm3-peterson.bsky.social — Bluesky

 

Musk himself, never one to shy away from the spotlight, took the opportunity to heap praise on Trump’s leadership, declaring, “This is the best Cabinet ever, literally.”

He went on to say, “I do not give false praise. This is an incredible group of people. I don’t think such a talented team has ever been assembled. It is literally the best Cabinet the country has ever had.”

The exchange sent shockwaves through Washington, further highlighting Musk’s growing influence in the Trump administration.

While Musk is often hailed as a visionary entrepreneur, his increasingly aggressive approach to government reform—most notably through drastic cuts and unorthodox mandates—has drawn concern from some within the federal workforce.

One of Musk’s more controversial moves was a directive requiring all federal agencies to submit a weekly email answering a single question: “What did you do last week?”

The order, which was reportedly sent without warning to various departments, included a stark warning—failure to comply could result in termination.

The mandate blindsided many within the administration, with reports suggesting that neither Cabinet heads nor Congress were given a heads-up.

A senior White House official, speaking anonymously, admitted, “A lot of agencies weren’t given a heads-up, which caused some headaches.”

 

When asked by a member of the press about reports that some members of Trump's Cabinet are displeased with Musk's power, Trump disputed it

 

When questioned about whether this directive was a sign of internal tensions, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt pushed back, insisting that “nobody was caught off guard.”

Confronted by reporters about whether Cabinet secretaries had been frustrated by Musk’s demands, she challenged the premise of the question, dismissing claims as “leaks from career bureaucrats.”

CNN’s Jeff Zeleny pressed further, asking whether there would be any “give and take” when it came to Musk’s authority and whether Trump was open to discussions about “who is actually in charge of the chain of command.”

Leavitt stood firm, stating, “Everybody is working as one team, and the president respects the decisions of his Cabinet secretaries to tell their staff not to respond to that email if they believe it compromises national security. It’s pretty common sense.”

Despite reassurances from the White House, tensions surrounding Musk’s involvement in government operations continue to escalate.

His willingness to implement radical cost-cutting measures—paired with his blunt, no-nonsense leadership style—has earned him both admirers and fierce critics. His ability to influence Trump’s decision-making, however, appears to be undeniable.

 

Trump said Musk, who is 'tremendously successful' is sacrificing a lot to head up the agency

 

Musk’s high-profile role was further emphasized last week when he was presented with a symbolic gift by Argentinian President Javier Milei at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC).

The gift? A chainsaw—a nod to the deep cuts Musk has overseen at DOGE and a striking symbol of his no-holds-barred approach to reducing government spending.

While Musk’s allies argue that his influence is necessary to streamline bureaucracy and promote efficiency, detractors worry that his unchecked power could lead to reckless decision-making.

The sheer fact that Trump publicly vowed to “throw out” any dissenters suggests that Musk’s authority within the administration is not just respected—it’s protected.

For now, Trump’s bold declaration has left Washington buzzing with speculation. Is Musk’s presence a sign of a radically restructured government, or is his influence becoming too great for even Trump’s inner circle to challenge?

One thing is certain—under this administration, loyalty to Musk is not optional. It’s mandatory.