(Bloomberg) -- The search for Donald Trump’s chief economic policymaker devolved into disarray over the weekend, with contenders tussling for support, aides scrambling to find alternative candidates and the president-elect fuming over the behind-the-scenes jockeying that has spilled into public view.
Over the weekend, billionaire Elon Musk and Key Square Group LP founder Scott Bessent — whom Trump is considering for the Treasury secretary post — spoke after Musk publicly endorsed a separate candidate, Howard Lutnick, as the best pick for the role, according to people familiar with the matter.
Trump has appeared frustrated with the infighting over the powerful cabinet position — which includes overseeing the $28 trillion Treasuries market and economic sanctions. Staff have been looking for alternatives, with Robert Lighthizer, Senator William Hagerty, Apollo Global Management Inc. Chief Executive Officer Marc Rowan and Kevin Warsh, a former Federal Reserve governor, among the names in the mix, said people familiar with the discussions.
In addition to Treasury, other economic posts including director of the National Economic Council are coveted positions. Peter Navarro, a former economic and trade adviser to Trump, is among those floated in recent days for the NEC role, people said.
The race for Treasury intensified Saturday when Musk, who has become a close adviser and key supporter of Trump, posted on X that Bessent would be the “business as usual choice” while Lutnick, co-chair of Trump’s presidential transition, would “actually enact change” as Treasury secretary.
Bessent’s allies quickly arranged a call later Saturday for him and Musk, the people said. In the evening, Musk was in New York with Trump to watch a UFC fight in Madison Square Garden before the president-elect flew back to Palm Beach, Florida, where his transition team is headquartered. Bessent is currently in Palm Beach, the people said.
Bessent declined to comment. Musk didn’t immediately reply to a request for comment.
Lutnick was a key support to Trump’s fundraising in the final stretch of his campaign and has helped lead the team’s transition to the presidency. Some advisers are looking at other options for Lutnick, such as a high-profile ambassadorship, people familiar with the discussions have said.
Musk’s pro-Lutnick post on Saturday responded to veteran investor Kyle Bass, who said Bessent was the more qualified pick and understood “markets, economics, people, and geopolitics better than anyone I’ve ever interacted with.”
While Musk has been a regular presence by Trump’s side since Election Day on Nov. 5, last week showed the limits of his political influence when Senate Republicans elected John Thune from South Dakota as their next leader. Musk had endorsed Florida’s Rick Scott for the post.
Bessent praised Trump’s economic agenda in a Fox News interview last week, saying “we could have a golden age for the next four years,” including a return of manufacturing, US energy dominance and a technology boom.
Lutnick is among those pushing back against Bessent, saying the hedge fund manager is soft on key protectionist pledges, including tariffs, people familiar with the matter have said.
Trump has sought to move quickly on cabinet nominees for his second term as president, including unconventional choices such as former Representative Matt Gaetz for US attorney general and Army veteran and Fox News host Pete Hegseth for defense secretary.
On Saturday, Trump picked Chris Wright, who runs a Colorado-based oil and natural gas fracking services company, to lead the Energy Department and William Owen Scharf, one of his attorneys, as White House staff secretary.
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