Elon Musk's departure from the Trump administration in May 2025 was marked by a surreal scene in his West Wing office, involving Tesla-branded tequila and culminating in a public spat with then-President Donald Trump, according to a new memoir.
Tyler Hassen, a former deputy to Musk within the Department of Energy and Government Oversight (DOGE), details these events in his book, "Inside DOGE: The Real Story from a Senior Insider." Hassen, an energy executive from Texas, joined DOGE in January 2025 and describes being given significant authority by Musk. The memoir, set for release on September 22, offers an inside look at the internal workings of Musk's agency, its conflicts with federal bureaucracy, and the eventual fallout with Trump.
According to Hassen's account, one of Musk's final meetings with his team occurred late on a Thursday night in May 2025. After his lieutenants had spoken, Musk offered Tesla-branded tequila from a lightning-bolt-shaped bottle, pouring shots into plastic cups. Hassen recalls that the atmosphere in the room was heavy with frustration, even the tequila failing to mask the shift. This meeting reportedly took place on the same day Musk clashed with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.
The core of Musk's disagreement with Trump revolved around "One Big Beautiful Bill," Trump's signature legislation. Musk and his loyalists within DOGE opposed the bill due to its inclusion of billions of dollars in new spending, which they felt undermined their cost-cutting efforts. Musk was more vocal in his opposition, publicly branding the bill a "disgusting abomination" days after leaving the administration.
The rift escalated when Musk publicly claimed that the Jeffrey Epstein files had not been released because Trump was implicated. Trump responded from the Oval Office, expressing disappointment in Musk and later accusing the billionaire of going "crazy" on Truth Social. He also threatened to revoke federal contracts and subsidies for Musk's companies. Reports also indicated that Trump privately referred to Musk as a "big-time drug addict."
Musk, who maintains his ketamine use is prescribed, countered that Trump would have lost the 2024 election without his support and endorsed calls for Trump's impeachment. The situation became so tense that Hassen, fearing the dismantling of DOGE, began collecting mementos from the department's gift shop.
Despite the public acrimony, Vice President JD Vance intervened within a day of the initial blow-up, seeking to repair the rift. Vance believed Musk was too valuable to alienate and continued discussions with Musk and his allies. These efforts, along with support from Donald Trump Jr., who invested in Musk's companies, helped de-escalate the situation. Musk reportedly shelved plans for a third-party launch to avoid jeopardizing the relationship. The peace effort culminated in a May reconciliation, with Musk joining Trump on Air Force One for a summit in Beijing, where he pledged at least $100 million to support Republican congressional campaigns.
However, the memoir suggests that Trump remains deeply distrustful of Musk, with advisers indicating their close relationship is unlikely to be rekindled. For Hassen, the tequila toast in Musk's office had become a symbol of their unravelling association, a farewell that was not fully realized until later.