For a time, Donald Trump’s transition continued at a record pace, appointing top Cabinet picks against a backdrop of calm consensus.
But the knives are out now, and the advisers are leaking accusations against each other to the press, amid the scramble to trouble allies.
“Winning helped make things better for a while, but this is still political and there are always scores to be settled and issues to be addressed,” said a source familiar with the workings of Trump’s inner circle.
In the most publicized example, Axios was tipped that Tesla founder Elon Musk and Trump’s legal adviser Boris Epshteyn had had a “major blowup” over dinner at Mar-a-Lago last week.
The report alleged that Musk was annoyed by Epshteyn’s influence on Cabinet choices and accused him of leaking details to the media, accusations he vociferously denied.
At the same time, Musk’s new role as Trump’s “first buddy” has irritated others in the circle, who hope he quickly falls out of favor with a boss who likes to have just one center of attention.
A transition source played down the story, saying Epshteyn and Musk had a good relationship and had often eaten at the same table.
Still, it comes as other Trump loyalists express irritation with Musk’s growing influence and his public comments on appointments and policies.
President-elect Donald Trump took Elon Musk to Madison Square Garden for a UFC fight on Saturday. They are seen here with Kid Rock (right)
Boris Epshteyn was always present with Trump during his criminal trial in New York earlier this year and traveled on Trump’s private jet during the campaign
Business at Mar-a-Lago on Monday was expected to focus on the major economic and financial jobs still open, such as Treasury Department secretaries
At the same time, other advisers are taking aim at Epshteyn, who was seen as a key player in promoting Matt Gaetz to attorney general.
Epshteyn assembled Trump’s legal team for his criminal case in New York, and two of those lawyers, Todd Blanche and Emile Bove, have landed top jobs at the Justice Department.
The result is a bitter wave of briefing against him, with some insiders claiming he has too much influence and is heading for the circle.
The result is that two of Trump’s most influential advisers are in the line of fire.
Trump’s core team has been together at Mar-a-Lago since his sensational election victory.
According to an analysis by David Marchick, dean of American University’s Kogod School of Business, they had rushed through key appointments, setting a modern-day record with 12 Cabinet-level appointments in the 12 days since the election.
Judging from previous Trump campaigns and administrations, the effort was notable for its lack of sniping and dysfunction.
But as attention in Palm Beach turns to economic appointments (such as that of the Secretary of the Treasury), divisions are beginning to emerge.
Donald and Melania Trump dine at Mar-a-Lago with Elon Musk
Elon Musk praised Argentine President Javier Milei’s decision to cut tariffs this weekend, raising eyebrows among Trump’s allies
Epshteyn (far right) assembled the legal team that defended Trump in New York
Elon Musk, with House Speaker Mike Johnson, and Trump on Saturday
Musk went public this weekend by criticizing one of the front-runners for the post, praising a foreign leader’s decision to cut tariffs at a time when Trump is planning an administration based on higher tariffs.
He pushed for Howard Lutnick, Trump’s transition co-chair, to be appointed Treasury secretary, instead of Scott Bessent, who has been outed by the president-elect in the past.
“My opinion is that Bessent is a business-as-usual choice, while @howardlutnick will actually effect change,” he wrote on X.
“Business-as-usual is driving America bankrupt, so we need change somehow.”
Bessent has been a frequent guest in Steve Bannon’s Warroom, potentially pitting Musk against one of Trump’s most influential informal advisers and his millions of loyal viewers.
The former president’s allies were thrilled when Musk used his personal fortune to fund the ground game in battleground states.
And he has been appointed, along with former presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy, to lead a drive for efficiency across government.
Still, there are signs that he may have outstayed his welcome.
“He has to be careful,” said a source close to the campaign. “There is only room for one president and it has not gone unnoticed that he is making a lot of headlines.”
Others said the briefings against Musk were not based on fact, pointing out that Trump took the Tesla founder to Madison Square Garden for a UFC fight on Saturday.
One said the world’s richest man had no financial interest in pushing certain names for jobs, unlike others in Trump’s inner circle.