Scott Bessent is no fan of Elon Musk.
The treasury secretary — whose Oval Office arguments with the former DOGE head reportedly came to blows — questioned whether anyone would fall in line behind Musk’s promised America Party.
Speaking to CNN’s “State of the Union” on Sunday, Bessent showed no fear of Musk’s splinter movement.
“The principles of DOGE were very popular. I think, if you look at the polling, Elon was not,” Bessent said. “I imagine those boards of directors [at Elon’s companies] did not like his announcement yesterday and will be encouraging him to focus on his business activities, not his political activities.”
Bessent takes a shot at Musk: "The principles of DOGE were very popular. I think if you looked at the polling, Elon was not." pic.twitter.com/cQChgprjSR
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) July 6, 2025
Musk was the MAGA moneyman during Donald Trump’s 2024 presidential campaign, turning hundreds of millions of dollars in contributions into a role as Trump’s right-hand man in the early months of his second turn. The Tesla CEO wore out his Washington welcome as more and more of Trump’s Cabinet began to bristle at the billionaire. He left his role at the Trump-created Department of Government Efficiency on mostly amicable terms, but turned on the president and his party as they successfully pushed through a massive tax cut and spending bill.
After Trump signed the “One Big, Beautiful Bill” into law, Musk went on a multi-post tirade on X. He promised to launch his own party, called the America Party, to break away from what he sees as wasteful government spending.
“When it comes to bankrupting our country with waste & graft, we live in a one-party system, not a democracy. Today, the America Party is formed to give you back your freedom,” he wrote on Saturday.
