Tech billionaire Elon Musk has been criticised by a Trump official, who described him as “the most irritating person I’ve ever had to deal with”.
Musk was appointed to head up the so-called Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), which has been at the heart of controversial moves to cut federal funding, foreign aid and a $25,000 award to help LGBTQ+ refugees.
His appointment reportedly hasn’t been well received by some within government, however. Three anonymous sources told Rolling Stone that US Secretary of State Marco Rubio — who, in January, ordered the State Department to halt passport applications with “X” gender markers — is one of several state officials struggling to hide his “disdain” for Musk, while others have reportedly given the billionaire the nickname “Crazy Uncle Elon”.
A senior Trump official told the publication: “I have been in the same room with Elon, and he always tries to be funny. And he’s not funny. Like, at all.
“He makes these jokes and little asides and smiles and then looks almost hurt if you don’t lap up his humour. I keep using the word ‘annoying’; a lot of people who have to deal with him do. But the word doesn’t do the situation justice. Elon just thinks he’s smarter than everyone else in the room and acts like it, even when it’s clear he doesn’t know what he’s talking about.”
He continued: “Talking to the guy is sometimes like listening to really rusty nails on a chalkboard. He’s just the most irritating person I’ve ever had to deal with, and that is saying something.”
In April, Musk locked horns with the Trump administration over tariffs. Trump announced the tariffs on April 2, announcing a 10 per cent baseline tax on all imports and even higher penalties for China (34 per cent) and the EU (20 per cent).
The move was pitched as a push to restore US manufacturing and “Make America Great Again”, but it has triggered widespread backlash – as well as criticism from Trump’s allies. However, Musk’s companies rely heavily on the global supply chain, for example lithium manufactured in China.
Musk used social media to express concern about the tariffs, mocking White House trade adviser Peter Navarro, whom he holds responsible for the policy. However, Navarro responded that Musk is only criticising the policy out of self-interest, as the tariffs threaten to erode margins for Tesla and increase the cost of electric vehicles at a time when EV sales are slowing down.
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