Elon Musk and Boris Epshteyn Clash Over Trump Cabinet Picks in Heated Confrontation

Tensions within President-elect Donald Trump’s transition team have escalated following a heated confrontation between Elon Musk and Boris Epshteyn, a longtime Trump attorney and adviser. The clash occurred during a dinner at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago club, where Musk accused Epshteyn of leaking sensitive details about the transition process, including potential personnel picks, to the media.

The altercation, described as a “massive blowup” and a “huge explosion,” highlighted a power struggle between Musk, who has recently gained significant influence in Trump’s inner circle, and Epshteyn, who has been a key legal ally to Trump. Musk questioned Epshteyn’s influence in selecting nominations for the Department of Justice, particularly the consideration of far-right congressman Matt Gaetz for attorney general.

Musk has been advocating for his preferred candidates, including Howard Lutnick, co-chair of Trump’s transition team, for the position of Treasury secretary, over Wall Street veteran Scott Bessent. This move has further strained relations between Musk and Epshteyn, who has been instrumental in Trump’s legal defense and a close adviser throughout his 2024 campaign and post-election transition.

Despite the friction, Musk enjoys considerable support from Trump’s family and other allies, including Vice President-elect JD Vance, commentator Tucker Carlson, and Trump’s sons. However, his growing role in the transition has annoyed some of Trump’s longtime loyalists, who view him as overstepping his boundaries.

Musk’s involvement in the transition process is not limited to Cabinet appointments. He has also been part of meetings discussing key positions and has joined a call between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Additionally, Musk is set to lead a newly created Department of Government Efficiency alongside entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, with plans to recommend mass firings and drastic spending cuts across the federal government.