The recent nomination of Sergio Gor as the next US Ambassador to India by President Donald Trump has stirred controversy, largely due to a past public feud with Elon Musk, who once labeled Gor a "snake". This nomination comes amidst already delicate relations between Washington and New Delhi, marked by ongoing tariff disputes.
The clash between Musk and Gor reportedly stemmed from several issues, including disagreements over personnel matters and Gor's role within the Trump administration. In mid-June 2025, Musk took to X (formerly Twitter) to publicly call Gor "a snake". This was in response to a New York Post report that alleged Gor, who as director of the White House Presidential Personnel Office oversaw the vetting of thousands of executive-branch employees, had not completed his own background security clearance paperwork for a permanent security clearance. The report further claimed that Gor was operating under an interim clearance despite his high-level vetting responsibilities.
The White House, however, strongly refuted these claims, asserting that Gor had completed all necessary documentation and that his security clearance was active. White House counsel David Warrington stated that Gor was fully compliant with all ethical and legal obligations and that any insinuation he didn't maintain a clearance was false. Vice President JD Vance also defended Gor, praising his work in staffing the administration with individuals who support Trump's "America First" vision.
Beyond the security clearance issue, deeper tensions appear to have fueled the animosity between Musk and Gor. Reports indicate that the two clashed at Cabinet meetings, where Musk reportedly "chastised" Gor over personnel disagreements. One particular point of contention was the withdrawn nomination of Jared Isaacman, a friend of Musk, to lead NASA. According to reports, Gor presented President Trump with a dossier highlighting Isaacman's past donations to Democrats, which contributed to the reversal of the nomination. This move reportedly infuriated Musk.
Musk's issues with Gor predate this incident, with tensions simmering for months before Musk's resignation in May 2025 as head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). Musk's resignation also followed a disagreement with President Trump over a tax-and-spending budget bill.
Sergio Gor's journey to becoming a prominent figure in Republican politics is noteworthy. Born in Uzbekistan when it was part of the Soviet Union, he later moved to Malta with his family before relocating to the United States. He worked for Senator Rand Paul and eventually joined Trump's circle as a fundraiser, publisher, and trusted aide. The New York Times has described him as "valued by the president for his loyalty" but also "capricious" in decision-making. Despite controversies and critical media coverage, Gor rose to become one of Trump's most trusted insiders.
President Trump has lauded Gor as a "great friend" and praised his role in overseeing the hiring of nearly 4,000 officials across federal departments. Trump has also credited Gor with helping to deliver his political mandate through campaign work and publishing his bestselling books. Gor himself has expressed gratitude for Trump's trust and called the ambassadorship "the honor of my life".
