Intense fighting delays the process, Trump's treasury secretary selection falls into chaos.

The job of chief economic policy maker for Donald Trump has been thrown into chaos over the weekend, with candidates vying for support and aides scrambling to find alternative options, while the president is reportedly angry at the behind-the-scenes power struggle that has come into the public eye. According to sources, over the weekend, billionaire Elon Musk and Key Square Group LP founder Scott Bessent (who Trump is considering for Treasury Secretary) made speeches, with Musk publicly supporting another candidate, Howard Lutnick, as the best choice for the position. Trump seems frustrated with the cabinet position struggle, which includes overseeing the $28 trillion US debt market and economic sanctions, among other responsibilities. Staff have reportedly been looking for other candidates, including Robert Lighthizer, Senator William Hagerty, Apollo Global Management CEO Marc Rowan, and former Fed governor Kevin Warsh. Other coveted economic positions, such as Chair of the National Economic Council, are also being eyed by candidates. Some sources have mentioned Trump's former economic and trade advisor Peter Navarro as a potential nominee for Chair of the National Economic Council in recent days. On Saturday, Musk, who has become a close advisor and key supporter of Trump, posted on X stating that Bessent would be the "conventional choice," and the Co-Chair of Trump's Presidential Transition Committee, Lutnick, would be the one to "actually implement the change" as Treasury Secretary. Sources say that Bessent's allies quickly arranged a call for him and Musk later on Saturday. That evening, Musk and Trump watched a UFC championship fight at Madison Square Garden in New York, after which the president-elect flew back to his transition team headquarters in Palm Beach, Florida. Sources say Bessent is currently in Palm Beach. Bessent declined to comment. Musk did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Lutnick was a crucial supporter during the final stages of Trump's campaign and helped lead the team that transitioned Trump into the presidency. Some advisors are reportedly considering alternative position options for Lutnick, such as a high-profile ambassadorial role. In his Saturday posts, Musk supported Lutnick, responding to veteran investor Kyle Bass who claimed Bessent was the more qualified candidate, as he understands "markets, the economy, people, and geopolitics better than anyone I've ever met." Although Musk has been a frequent visitor to Trump since Election Day on November 5th, last week's election of Senator John Thune of South Dakota as the next majority leader brought Musk's political influence into question. Musk had supported Rick Scott of Florida for the role. Last week, Bessent praised Trump's economic agenda in an interview with Fox News, stating "we may be entering a golden age over the next four years" including a resurgence of manufacturing, US energy dominance, and technology prosperity. Lutnick, reportedly one of the opponents of Bessent, criticized the hedge fund manager's perceived weakness on key protectionist promises such as tariffs. Trump is looking to swiftly move on cabinet appointments for his second term, including unconventional picks such as former Congressman Matt Gaetz for Secretary of Defense, and Fox News host Pete Hegseth for Secretary of Defense. On Saturday, Trump appointed Chris Wright, who runs an oil and natural gas fracking service company in Colorado, as Energy Secretary, and appointed one of his lawyers, William Owen Scharf, as White House Counsel.