Elon Musk Overshadowed Confirmed Secretaries at Donald Trump’s First Cabinet Meeting

The wealthy Trump ally leading the administration’s efforts to shrink the federal government was a key player in the first cabinet meeting despite not being an official member.

President Donald Trump holds his first Cabinet meeting at the White House in Washington, Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2025.

AP Pool

Actual cabinet officials took a back seat to Elon Musk during the Trump administration’s first cabinet meeting on Wednesday, with President Donald Trump suggesting that any secretaries unsupportive of his Department of Government Efficiency be “thrown out.”

“It’s an honor to have you, he’s been a tremendously successful guy, he’s really working so hard,” Trump said in a sprawling hour-long press conference after the private meeting. “He’s sacrificing a lot and getting a lot of praise, I’ll tell you, but he’s also getting hit.”

“Is anybody unhappy with Elon? If you are, we’ll throw them out of here. Is anybody unhappy?” the president continued about Musk, who he tapped to lead DOGE.