The newspaper now provides details from the meeting earlier in the week, where, among others, Tesla CEO and Trump's ally Elon Musk attended, as well as a number of ministers. Five sources with insight paint a picture of how the meeting deteriorated.
You haven't fired anyone, Musk allegedly said to Marco Rubio.
Musk – who has been given responsibility for the so-called Department of State Efficiency, Doge – is also said to have stated that the Foreign Minister is only "good on TV broadcasts", implying that he has not succeeded in anything else.
Rubio, in turn, according to The New York Times sources, accused Musk of being dishonest and questioned whether the 1,500 people who left the Foreign Ministry through severance packages were not counted. Rubio is also said to have asked if Musk wanted him to rehire them – only to fire them again.
Everything is said to have taken place in front of Trump's eyes. The President is reported to have "sat in his chair with his arms crossed, as if he was watching a tennis match".
In the end, however, the President is said to have intervened and defended the Foreign Minister. The New York Times now highlights that it is the first clear indication that Trump has actually chosen to curb Musk. From several quarters, including among Republicans, it has been questioned in recent times how much leeway Musk is given.
