Treasury Secretary Scott Bescent addressed his ongoing differences with tech billionaire Elon Musk, suggesting their business approaches simply diverge.
“We had disagreements, but we both want to reach the same goal,” Bescent mentioned during a recent episode of the “Pod Force One” podcast with New York Post columnist Miranda Devine. “We want to cut down on government waste, fraud, and abuse.”
Bescent contrasted his methodical approach with Silicon Valley’s “move fast and break things” mentality.
“I think Elon probably sees himself as a Viking. I, on the other hand, would consider myself more of a ninja,” he noted.
Following a highly publicized fallout between Musk and former President Trump earlier this month, longtime Trump associate Steve Bannon recounted a passionate exchange between them, which the White House has denied escalated to a physical confrontation.
“Everyone is very passionate about doing their best for President Trump and the American people,” Bescent shared with Devine.
Bannon alleged that Musk was confronted during a heated dispute regarding the Ministry of Government Efficiency’s intent to reduce governmental spending.
“I will always champion South Carolina to South Africa,” Bescent remarked to lawmakers questioning him about the reported incident.
He expressed support for the Ministry’s initiatives during his interview.
“I view the Ministry as a spirit, and even though Elon is no longer physically involved, his influence remains. The momentum he created will likely lead to greater savings over time,” Bescent explained.
Musk stepped down from his advisory role at the end of May as his special government employee status expired. His disagreement with the president over a large spending package had created tension between him and Trump.
The tech billionaire later voiced regret about his actions, indicating that his comments had taken on a life of their own. Despite numerous appeals from associates, Trump hasn’t shown interest in mending their relationship.
