White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt pushed back on the notion that a fistfight broke out between Elon Musk and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.
The Washington Post has reported that following a meeting in April, Bessent and Musk began trading insults, after which Musk pushed his shoulder into Bessent “like a rugby player,” former White House strategist Steve Bannon told the paper. Bessent reportedly struck back before colleagues stepped in to break up the scuffle.
“Did Musk actually get physical? Was there a fistfight that he body checked the treasury secretary?” host Maria Bartiromo asked on Sunday.
“I certainly wouldn’t describe it as a fistfight, Maria. It was definitely a disagreement… we’ve moved on from it,” said Leavitt.
This comes as President Donald Trump has said that he has “no intention” of speaking to Musk following their public blowup over the Republican spending package up for debate in Congress.
“I’m too busy doing other things,” Trump told NBC News on Saturday. “I have no intention of speaking to him.”
“I think it’s a very bad thing, because he’s very disrespectful. You could not disrespect the office of the president,” he added.
Trump press secretary rejects ‘fistfight’ allegation involving Musk and Bessent
During an appearance on Fox News on Sunday, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt pushed back on reporting that there was a physical altercation between Elon Musk and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.
Former White House strategist Steve Bannon, who worked in Trump’s first term, told The Washington Post that he was informed that as Bessent and Musk exited the Oval Office following an April meeting, the pair began insulting each other.
Bessent mentioned Musk’s claim that he would find more than $1 trillion in waste and abuse of government spending, something the billionaire had not yet achieved.
“Scott said, ‘You’re a fraud. You’re a total fraud,’” Bannon told the paper.
Musk subsequently pushed his shoulder into Bessent “like a rugby player,” he added. Bessent struck back at Musk, and several people stepped in to break up the scuffle.
“Did Musk actually get physical? Was there a fistfight that he body checked the treasury secretary?” host Maria Bartiromo asked on Sunday.
“I certainly wouldn’t describe it as a fistfight, Maria. It was definitely a disagreement… we’ve moved on from it,” said Leavitt.
Trump stumbles on steps up to Air Force One
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Chad to suspend visas for US citizens in response to Trump’s travel ban
Chad has announced it will suspend issuing visas to U.S. citizens, retaliating against the Trump administration’s ban on Chadians visiting the United States.
The decision follows Trump’s announcement of a visa ban on 12 countries, including Chad, citing “deficient” screening and vetting processes and a history of refusing to repatriate citizens who overstay in the U.S.
The new ban targets Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, the Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen.
There will also be heightened restrictions on visitors from seven others in the new travel policy, which takes effect Monday at 12:01 a.m.
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Chad to suspend visas for US citizens in response to Trump’s travel ban
Ukraine boxer Oleksandr Usyk invites Trump to ‘live in my house’ to experience Russian war
Albert Toth writes:
Trump had previously asserted he could resolve the war “in 24 hours” upon assuming office. However, more than three years after Vladimir Putin’s full-scale invasion, a resolution remains elusive.
Usyk, a former undisputed world champion in both the cruiserweight and heavyweight divisions, conveyed a grim depiction of life in Ukraine, emphasising the necessity for Trump to develop a more profound understanding of the situation.
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Mike Lawler says he’ll vote against spending package if ‘Senate changes the SALT deduction’
New York Republican Rep. Mike Lawler said on CNN on Sunday that he’ll vote against the so-called big, beautiful bill if the Senate makes any changes to the State and Local Tax (SALT) deduction.
Trump ‘has all the powers and enough leverage to unite European leaders,’ Zelensky says
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky told ABC News he’s “convinced” that Trump “has all the powers and enough leverage to unite European leaders.”
Rep. Waters calls Trump ‘cruel, dishonorable human being’
Rep. Maxine Waters of California argued that there’s “no reason” for the National Guard to be in Los Angeles.
“What are those guns for? Are they to shoot protesters? I mean, there’s no reason to be here with the National Guard. The president of the United States is a cruel, dishonorable human being,” she told CNN.
‘Deranged’: Newsom and Hegseth trade insults as Defense Sec considers deploying Marines in LA
Isabel Keane writes:
The White House deployed 2,000 National Guard troops to arrest protesters as tensions continue to grow Sunday, the third day of protests sparked by a series of immigration raids by ICE agents on Friday.
Hegseth on Saturday threatened to deploy the U.S. military to take control of the protests – much to the ire of Newsom, who said the administration’s threats would “only escalate tensions.”
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Border czar indicates LA mayor and CA governor may be arrested
Trump Border Czar Tom Homan spoke to MSNBC on Saturday, indicating that LA Mayor Karen Bass and California Governor Gavin Newsom could be arrested.
“You cross that line, it’s a felony to knowingly harbor an illegal alien. It’s a felony to impede law enforcement,” said Homan.
Trump says LA protests doesn’t amount to an insurrection
Gaggling with reporters on his way to Camp David, Trump was asked if he was prepared to invoke the Insurrection Act in response to the protests in Los Angeles.
“Depends on whether or not there’s an insurrection,” said Trump.
A reporter asked if he believes there is an insurrection.
“No, no, but you have violent people,” he added. “And we’re not going to let him get away with it.”
Source: independent.co.uk