Elon Musk lashed out at a top Trump aide on social media, calling him a “snake” in response to reports that the adviser helped sour Musk’s relationship with former President Donald Trump.
The tech billionaire posted the jab on X (formerly Twitter), referring to Sergio Gor, the director of presidential personnel in charge of vetting thousands of Trump administration appointments. Musk’s post followed a report by The New York Post alleging that Gor had not completed the security paperwork required for his high-level role.
“He’s a snake,” Musk wrote, weeks after an online spat with Trump that ended in a rare public apology from the Tesla and SpaceX CEO.
Gor oversees vetting for roughly 4,000 executive branch positions, reviewing appointees’ social media histories, donations, and past statements to ensure loyalty to Trump. But insiders say Gor himself has not submitted the mandatory SF-86 form, a 100-plus page document required for high-security clearance.
A White House spokesperson dismissed the controversy as “baseless gossip,” saying Gor holds an active security clearance and is “fully compliant with all applicable legal and ethical obligations.”
Tensions between Musk and Gor reportedly boiled over after Trump pulled the nomination of Jared Isaacman — a Musk ally and billionaire pilot — to lead NASA. Rumors swirled that Gor orchestrated the decision as a parting jab at Musk, whom he allegedly resented after a humiliating encounter during a cabinet meeting.
According to reports, Gor mocked Tesla’s stock dips in private conversations, fueling speculation that he held a personal grudge. While some GOP lawmakers criticized Isaacman over past donations to Democrats, insiders say Musk saw the withdrawal as a final slight.
“There were some people that had some axes to grind, I guess, and I was a good, visible target,” Isaacman said after his nomination was rescinded.
A source familiar with the situation told Axios, “Elon saw the NASA decision as the last straw. So here we are.”
Musk’s increasingly strained relationship with Trump — once marked by mutual praise — has taken a sharp turn as political infighting, power struggles, and clashing egos reshape the dynamics inside Trump’s inner circle.
