President Donald Trump and Elon Musk were reunited at Charlie Kirk’s memorial service in Arizona following their bitter split a few months ago.
The men were seen on camera shaking hands on Sunday at State Farm Stadium in Glendale during speeches remembering the Turning Point USA founder.
After months of being Trump’s “first buddy,” the world’s richest man made a dramatic exit from the White House at the end of May after a feud ignited between him and the president.
At Kirk’s memorial, the official White House Rapid Response 47 account shared footage of the men chatting as Musk joined the president in the stadium.
The account appeared to celebrate their reunion, captioning the post with a love-heart and handshake emoji.
However, when asked about the meeting by reporters on Air Force One, the president did not seem very moved.
“Well, Elon came over and said hello. And, no, it’s nothing to do with that. It was — I thought it was nice. And he came over. Had a little conversation. We had a very good relationship. But it was nicer that he came,” Trump said.
Musk spent several months this year leading the Department of Government Efficiency’s efforts to slash government spending.
Under his leadership, Doge laid off hundreds of thousands of federal employees, hollowed out several agencies and terminated thousands of government contracts and grants.
Toward the end of Musk’s time in government, cracks began to show between the tech mogul and the president.
Trump officially marked the end of Musk’s 130 days as a “special government employee” at an Oval Office press conference, where the Tesla CEO appeared with a black eye.
The president praised Musk for his work through Doge and hailed him for having led what he called “the most sweeping and consequential government reform program in generations.”
“Elon gave an incredible service. There’s nobody like him, and he had to go through the slings and the arrows, which is a shame, because he's an incredible patriot. The good news is that 90% of the country knows that, and they appreciate it, and they really appreciate what he did,” he said.
Trump then presented Musk with a trinket that dated back to the 47th president’s prior term as the 45th President of the United States: A “Key to the White House.”
After the send off, Musk went public with his opposition to Trump’s signature legislation, the “One, Big Beautiful Bill,” which the billionaire claimed would increase the budget deficit by $2.5 trillion.
“I’m sorry, but I just can’t stand it anymore,” Musk wrote of Trump’s bill on June 3. “This massive, outrageous, pork-filled Congressional spending bill is a disgusting abomination.”
Musk and Trump continued to spar until June 5, when the former Doge leader claimed the president appeared in the Epstein files.
“Time to drop the really big bomb: @realDonaldTrump is in the Epstein files,” Musk wrote. “That is the real reason they have not been made public. Have a nice day, DJT!”
Tensions appeared to ease soon afterward. Musk expressed “regret” on June 11 for the posts he made about the president, while Trump revealed he had “no hard feelings” toward Musk.
Soon after the bill was signed, the tech mogul announced that he would be forming the new “America Party.”
“When it comes to bankrupting our country with waste & graft, we live in a one-party system, not a democracy,” he wrote on X.
Trump called the idea “ridiculous.” The president also threatened to “take a look at” deporting Musk to South Africa, where he was born and raised for several years.
New emails reveal ‘alarmed’ reaction to Elon Musk’s robotaxi plans from city bosses
US lawmakers visiting China seek to improve military cooperation
Trump calls Charlie Kirk an ‘American hero’ at memorial: Live updates
Trump expected to link Tylenol use in pregnant women to autism
Trump orders attorney general to prosecute his political enemies straight away
Trump reveals Rupert Murdoch and son Lachlan’s role in deal to buy TikTok
