Washington: Although Donald Trump, the newly elected president of the United States, has not yet taken office, reports of internal turmoil within his team have already surfaced. According to American media reports, a dispute has erupted between tech billionaire and SpaceX owner Elon Musk and Trump’s longtime associate and advisor, Boris Epstein. The conflict centers around the selection of cabinet members. The tension between the two reportedly escalated to the point that they clashed during a dinner at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago club.
Since the presidential elections, Elon Musk has risen to significant prominence and is frequently seen alongside Donald Trump. This has started to irritate Trump’s older and more trusted associates, who are feeling sidelined by Musk’s rapidly growing influence. Musk is expected to take on a new and powerful role in the incoming administration.
According to an Axios report, the dispute emerged during a dinner at Mar-a-Lago last Wednesday. The argument reportedly began when Musk opposed Boris Epstein, who had allegedly persuaded Trump to appoint controversial figures like Matt Gaetz as Attorney General. Musk, who contributed at least $119 million to Trump’s campaign, had played a significant role in shifting the direction of Trump’s election efforts.
Sources familiar with the situation reported that Musk questioned Epstein’s excessive influence in the selection of Trump’s new cabinet ministers. The argument intensified, especially concerning top positions within the Justice Department and the appointment of White House counsel. Musk insisted on bringing in his preferred candidates for the cabinet, and when negotiations stalled, the two men clashed, leading to Musk’s anger. Epstein, who had played a crucial role in protecting Trump from criminal charges, continues to hold significant influence in the cabinet appointments following Trump’s victory.