Scott Bessent takes dig at Elon Musk over his new political party: 'Run those companies'
WASHINGTON, DC: Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent appeared to make fun of Elon Musk as he launched a new political party following his rift with Donald Trump and his administration over the "One, Big, Beautiful Bill Act."
Speaking with CNN's Dana Bash, when Bessent was asked about the Tesla CEO’s recent announcement, he said, “Look, the principles of DOGE were very popular. I think if you looked at the polling, Elon was not.”
🚨 Holy SMOKES: Scott Bessent with a message for Elon Musk...
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) July 6, 2025
"The principles of DOGE were very popular. If you looked at the polling, Elon was NOT."
"Those Board of Directors did not like this announcement [of a new party] yesterday."pic.twitter.com/riAVdIdyMO
Scott Bessent says Elon Musk is better at running companies
Scott Bessent further explained that he “believes that the boards of directors at his various companies wanted him to come back and run those companies, which he is better at than anyone.”
“So, I imagine that those board of directors did not like this announcement yesterday and will be encouraging him to focus on his business activities, not his political activities,” Bessent added.
On Saturday, July 5, the world’s richest man shared on X, formerly called Twitter, that he’s set up the “America Party” to compete against the two popular American parties, Democratic and Republican.
By a factor of 2 to 1, you want a new political party and you shall have it!
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) July 5, 2025
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. https://t.co/9K8AD04QQN
Elon Musk says America Party will 'give back your freedom' as political clash deepens
Elon Musk shared, “By a factor of 2 to 1, you want a new political party and you shall have it! 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.
Meanwhile, Bessent and the ex-DOGE chair have feuded in the past.
Elon Musk and Scott Bessent's troubled past
Following Donald Trump’s victory in the 2024 presidential election, Elon Musk supported then–Cantor Fitzgerald CEO Howard Lutnick to lead the Treasury Department, but Trump ultimately chose Scott Bessent for the role.
The Republican leader appointed Lutnick instead as Secretary of the Department of Commerce.
Then, in mid-April, the billionaire reportedly body-checked Bessent in the Oval Office after the two presented their respective plans for the Internal Revenue Service to Trump.
Trump favored Bessent’s proposal over Musk’s, prompting the men to exchange heated and insulting remarks.
The Washington Post cited former White House official Steve Bannon in its reporting, saying, “Scott said, ‘You’re a fraud. You’re a total fraud,’” before the confrontation allegedly turned physical. “President Trump heard about it and said, ‘This is too much,’” Bannon added.
Despite past tensions, Scott Bessent says he and Elon Musk want the same reforms
But in June, Scott Bessent denied any rift with Elon Musk. He told The Post columnist Miranda Devine on her 'Pod Force One' podcast, “We have had disagreements, but we both want to get to the same place. We both want to eliminate the waste, fraud and abuse in government.”
“The Silicon Valley mode of operation is move quickly and break things. I always say here at Treasury we move deliberately and fix things,” he noted, before adding, “I think Elon probably fancies himself more of a Viking. I think I’m more of a ninja.”
