A rift has erupted between tech titan Elon Musk and President Trump’s personnel director, Sergio Gor, after a bombshell report by the New York Post revealed Gor sidestepped a standard background check despite his pivotal role in vetting Trump’s political appointees. Musk, never one to mince words, branded Gor “a snake” in a tweet on Wednesday night.
He’s a snake
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) June 19, 2025
Isaacman’s Failed Nomination
The clash stems from Gor’s alleged hand in derailing the nomination of Jared Isaacman, Musk’s close ally and SpaceX collaborator, to helm NASA. Reports say Gor, 38, persuaded Trump to pull Isaacman’s nomination just before Senate confirmation, citing Isaacman’s past donations to Democrats.
Escalating Tensions Between Musk and Trump
The move infuriated Musk, 53, who had championed Isaacman as a member in Trump’s administration. The fallout deepened an already strained relationship between Musk and Trump, culminating in a June 5 showdown where Musk endorsed calls for Trump’s impeachment, and Trump retaliated by threatening to slash “Billions and Billions of dollars” in federal contracts for companies of Musk’s.
Musk, Trump’s largest financial backer in last year’s election with over $250 million in campaign contributions, had initially voiced mild concerns about a bill stuffed with Trump’s campaign pledges—like tax cuts on tips, overtime, and Social Security. But Isaacman’s ousting flipped Musk’s critique into a full-throated crusade to “k*ll” the legislation, urging the public to vote out any lawmaker who supported it. Reports say Gor’s influence not only tanked Isaacman’s nomination but also sparked Musk’s outrage, with some of Trump’s top advisers fuming that Gor let personal grudges jeopardize the president’s agenda.
The president and Elon Musk seem to be making amends. After many insults shared by Musk on X, he has since come out to say that he regrets some of his tweets regarding Donald Trump. This signals that the two will likely make up and perhaps become allies once again.
“I regret some of my posts about President @realDonaldTrump last week. They went too far,” Musk said in his post on X.
I regret some of my posts about President @realDonaldTrump last week. They went too far.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) June 11, 2025
Gor’s Role Under Fire
Adding fuel to the fire, Gor, tasked with screening over 4,000 executive-branch appointees, reportedly failed to submit his Standard Form 86 (SF-86), a mandatory questionnaire for security clearance background checks. While nearly all White House aides comply before starting work, Gor, who holds an interim clearance, only recently “completed” the exhaustive 100-plus-page form, according to the White House, though it remains unclear when he’ll turn it in.
The form demands details like birthplace and foreign ties, but Gor’s background raises questions. He claims Maltese heritage, yet Malta’s government confirmed to the New York Post he wasn’t born there. The 38-year-old, who says he immigrated to the U.S. at age 12, declined to clarify his birthplace, only ruling out Russia.
A Diverse Administration, Yet Selective Vetting
Trump’s administration includes prominent former Democrats like Robert F. Kennedy Jr., now health and human services secretary, and Tulsi Gabbard, director of national intelligence, suggesting Isaacman’s Democratic donations weren’t the sole issue. Still, Gor’s murky vetting process and his role in the Musk-Trump feud have left allies of both men scrambling to contain the damage.
The Fairview Gazette will keep you updated on this ongoing situation.
