Karoline Leavitt Avoids Answering Maria Bartiromo’s Tough Question About Elon Musk’s Alleged Physical Clash with Treasury Secretary

In a high-stakes interview that left the political world on edge, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt faced a barrage of tough questions from Fox News host Maria Bartiromo about the escalating rift between President Donald Trump and Elon Musk. The topic that seemed to capture everyone’s attention, however, wasn’t about the policy battles or economic disagreements—it was about an alleged physical altercation between Musk and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.

In a conversation that exposed the raw, often tumultuous nature of White House dynamics, Bartiromo pointedly asked Leavitt about an incident reported by The Washington Post, claiming that Musk had physically “body-checked” Bessent during a tense disagreement at the White House. The clash reportedly erupted over differing views on how to handle the administration’s legislative priorities, and the physical nature of the altercation raised alarms in Washington about the growing division within Trump’s team.

The question hit Leavitt hard, forcing her to try and deflect Bartiromo’s sharp inquiry with a series of awkward chuckles and vague responses. As she tried to downplay the significance of the alleged incident, Leavitt repeatedly stressed that it was merely a “healthy disagreement” within the Cabinet—a term she used to describe the escalating tensions that had erupted between the billionaire tech mogul and key members of the administration.

Despite her best efforts to deflect the tension surrounding the matter, Bartiromo wasn’t letting Leavitt off the hook so easily. After Leavitt’s attempt to brush off the altercation as nothing more than a robust debate, the Fox News host pushed harder. She brought up the fact that President Trump had publicly stated that Musk had “disrespected the office of the president” and pressed Leavitt on the physical nature of the disagreement.

Bartiromo’s question was direct and cutting: “What happened? Did he body-check the Treasury Secretary in the White House?”

Leavitt chuckled awkwardly but struggled to provide a clear response. She attempted to spin the altercation into a more palatable narrative for the White House, focusing on the notion that the disagreement was just part of the back-and-forth that often occurs within the administration.

“This really speaks to the heart of this Cabinet and the president’s team,” Leavitt explained, with a forced smile. “We can have these robust disagreements and still come together to do what’s right for the people we’re serving.”

But Bartiromo wasn’t satisfied with the vague answer and pressed further. She asked, “What I’m trying to understand here is how rough this got, because the president said that Elon Musk disrespected the office of the president.” Bartiromo pointed out that while Musk’s X posts had shown a clear disrespect toward Trump, the issue was much larger if the reports about the physical confrontation were true.

The tension between Leavitt and Bartiromo grew palpable as the interview continued. Leavitt remained steadfast in her refusal to provide any definitive answers about the nature of the altercation, dismissing the incident as a mere “disagreement.” She continued to downplay the situation, claiming that she hadn’t witnessed the alleged body-check herself and had only heard about it secondhand.

“I certainly wouldn’t describe it as a fistfight, Maria,” Leavitt said, almost nervously. “It was definitely a disagreement. Although, I was not there, I didn’t witness it with my own eyes. I heard about it through secondhand reporting. But again, we’ve moved on from that. The president has moved on from it.”

Leavitt’s attempt to downplay the incident, however, raised more questions than answers. Many viewers, including some in the political establishment, were left wondering how far the rift between Trump and Musk had actually gone. Had the relationship between the two once-powerful figures truly deteriorated to the point of physical confrontations? Or was the White House simply trying to avoid further embarrassment by sidestepping an issue that could spark even more public infighting?

The larger context of the Musk-Trump fallout, of course, remains crucial to understanding the full picture. Musk’s criticisms of the administration—specifically, his comments about the $1.6 trillion spending bill and his public spat with the president—have fueled tensions behind the scenes for months. Musk’s decision to break away from Trump’s “America First” agenda and voice his discontent has become a defining moment in the relationship between the president and the tech mogul, who had once been staunch allies.

Leavitt’s reluctance to address the physical confrontation head-on signals a larger effort by the White House to avoid further damaging their already fraught relationship with Musk. Whether or not the alleged altercation will have long-term consequences for the administration remains to be seen, but it is clear that the dynamics between Trump and Musk have shifted significantly in recent months.

Despite Leavitt’s attempts to downplay the significance of the incident, the public is left with lingering questions about the nature of the White House’s inner workings and the growing divisions within the Trump administration. With Musk now openly criticizing the president’s agenda and even floating the idea of starting a new political party, the stage is set for a political showdown that could reverberate throughout the 2024 election cycle.

For now, the White House is focused on pushing through Trump’s legislative priorities, but with a fractured team and Musk’s influence in the mix, it’s unclear how smoothly the administration will be able to navigate the coming political battles. As the fallout from this confrontation continues to unfold, one thing is certain—Musk’s departure from the president’s inner circle marks a pivotal moment in the ongoing saga of the Trump administration.

Whether or not the public will ever fully learn the truth about the physical altercation between Musk and Bessent is another matter. But for now, the administration is hoping that moving forward, rather than looking back, will be the key to achieving their legislative goals and maintaining political unity. However, as Leavitt’s interview on Sunday shows, the cracks in that unity may run deeper than anyone expected.