A significant physical altercation reportedly occurred between Elon Musk and Scott Bessent, who was identified as Treasury Secretary in one account, inside the White House, sparking widespread media attention and online speculation. According to reports, including detailed accounts attributed to MAGA activist Steve Bannon, the confrontation escalated from a dispute over competing plans for the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) presented to then-US President Donald Trump.

The incident, said to have taken place in mid-April, began after Musk and Bessent made their respective cases regarding the acting IRS commissioner in the Oval Office. President Trump ultimately supported Bessent's choice, a decision that reportedly rankled Musk. Following the meeting, as they exited the Oval Office, the two men allegedly began exchanging insults. Steve Bannon recalled Bessent calling Elon Musk a "fraud" and a "total fraud," particularly referencing Musk's role as head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) and his push to cut government spending.

The verbal spat then allegedly turned physical. Bannon described Musk striking Bessent, with one account stating Musk "punched Bessent like a rugby player" and another detailing Musk ramming his shoulder into Bessent's rib cage "like a rugby player." Bessent is said to have fought back. The altercation reportedly required multiple people to intervene and break it up as they neared the office of then-National Security Adviser Mike Waltz.

Following the fight, Bannon claimed that President Trump, upon hearing about the incident, remarked, "This is too much." Musk was reportedly quickly removed from the West Wing. While one account stated this specific episode, having occurred weeks prior, had no contribution to a recent black eye Musk was seen with, other reports highlighted widespread public speculation and social media chatter wondering if the fight was the cause of the injury.

This physical confrontation has been earmarked by some as the "beginning of the end" of the relationship between Elon Musk and Donald Trump. Prior to this, Musk had reportedly expressed his concerns to Trump about his tariffs and made personal appeals for their reversal. The tensions evidently simmered, leading to a more public falling out later.

After his apparent departure from any White House advisory role, Musk began to publicly attack Donald Trump, including his "Big, Beautiful Bill." Their public spat escalated, with Musk reportedly calling Trump "ungrateful," a "liar," and even a "pedophile," hinting that Trump's name was in the Epstein Files. Musk also called for Trump's impeachment. In response, Trump reacted in a measured way initially but threatened to cut federal funding for Musk's companies. A day after Musk deleted his most damning post linking Trump to Epstein, Trump issued another threat, warning Musk would face "very serious consequences" if he started bankrolling Democrats for office.

The news of the White House fight led to an internet field day, with a storm of memes and jokes. Social media users commented on the bizarre image of two powerful men fighting like schoolboys. The fact that Scott Bessent is openly gay and married to John Freeman, and that reports of the altercation gained traction around Pride Month in June, added another dimension to the online commentary, with some users reportedly reveling in the idea of the world's richest man getting beaten up by a gay banker.

Adding another layer to the fallout, Steve Bannon has since called for a federal probe into Elon Musk’s immigration status, stating he should be deported "immediately." This call was made despite reports indicating that Musk, originally from South Africa, is now a US citizen.