White House Staffer Responsible for ‘Fanning Flames’ Between Trump and Musk ID’d: Report

Americans wondering what caused the very public meltdown between President Donald Trump and Elon Musk this week may have just gotten their answer — and it didn’t come from the president or the billionaire himself.

According to a New York Post report, a quiet but deeply personal feud between Musk and a top Trump aide, Sergio Gor, has been brewing behind the scenes for months. That feud, several insiders say, eventually spilled over into the open, with Gor allegedly playing a central role in turning a simmering disagreement into a political firestorm.

Gor, who served as Director of Presidential Personnel, had reportedly clashed with Musk even before Trump’s inauguration. During the transition period, Musk is said to have called Gor “sleazy” and questioned his staffing decisions. The Post, citing five anonymous sources inside or close to the White House, reported that this tension only worsened as Musk took a more prominent advisory role within Trump’s administration.

In one particularly dramatic exchange, Musk reportedly confronted Gor during a March 6 cabinet meeting — in front of Trump and other top officials.

“Elon was always telling the president, ‘Sergio’s not moving fast enough to hire people. He’s not the right guy for the job,’” one source told the Post. “In front of the entire cabinet, he said that. It’s not just humiliating, but the president starts looking at him like, ‘Why aren’t you doing your f***ing job?’”

That moment appears to have marked a turning point in the internal drama. Sources say Gor began privately mocking Musk, even celebrating when Tesla’s stock dropped by sending screenshots of the dip with laughing emojis. According to one source, “Elon was, like, his obsession.” The same source claimed Gor often “planted” negative media stories about Musk.

But it didn’t stop there.

As Musk’s political influence grew, so did the tension. The final blow appears to have come when Trump pulled the nomination of Jared Isaacman — a space entrepreneur and close personal friend of Musk — to lead NASA. Isaacman’s nomination had already cleared the Senate Commerce Committee and was widely expected to pass in the full Senate. But at the last minute, Trump abruptly withdrew the nomination, reportedly at Gor’s urging.

Gor’s main objection? Isaacman’s past political donations — specifically, a $100,000 contribution in 2021 to a PAC supporting Democratic Senate Leader Chuck Schumer.

In a statement to the Post, Gor denied ever celebrating Tesla’s stock drop or seeking revenge on Musk. However, he stood firmly behind his role in the Isaacman decision: “Those who actively supported Democrats in the last cycle have no place in this administration,” he said. “This was never about Elon. It’s about someone who doesn’t agree with America First principles.”

Not everyone agrees with that take. While some Trump insiders view Gor’s actions as principled loyalty, others describe him as singularly focused on undermining Musk — even at the expense of party unity.

Former Trump adviser Steve Bannon, a known Gor ally, downplayed the feud entirely. “It’s the president and Elon,” Bannon said. “This has nothing to do with Sergio Gor. Sergio Gor is a staffer that the president has to do things.”

Still, the timing of events suggests otherwise. Musk left his advisory post last Friday, with Trump thanking him publicly. But just one day later, the president yanked Isaacman’s nomination. The move escalated the Musk–Trump conflict from a policy disagreement over the “Big, Beautiful Bill” into a very public war of words.

And now, with Musk no longer in the White House orbit and Gor reportedly departing as well, the aftermath could define more than just a headline — it could shape political alliances heading into 2026.