President Trump and Tesla CEO Elon Musk reunited during a memorial service for Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk, Sunday, for the first time since their bitter falling-out in June.
Several pictures of the two seated next to each other in a private suite and warmly engaged in conversation have appeared on social media. Kirk had previously predicted that Trump and Musk would eventually reconcile.
“I actually think they are going to reconcile at some point because, deep down, they both want the same thing,” Kirk stated on the Laura Ingraham Show back in June. “I hope Elon and Trump reconcile, it would be good for the country.”
The conservative activist added, “both of these men deserve great credit for their contributions to help save civilization.” Kirk posted a clip from the interview to X, commenting, “hope Elon and Trump reconcile and do so privately.” It would be good for the country and the world if they do.”
Following the memorial, Musk posted an image on X of the two seated together and commented, “For Charlie.”
Later Sunday evening, the official White House social media account also highlighted the reunion with the same message, “For Charlie.”
A video of their meeting shows Trump introducing Musk to Dana White, CEO of the Ultimate Fighting Championship. Lip reader Nicola Hickling provided the Daily Mail with her analysis of the conversation.
According to Hickling, Trump said “how are you doing” as he turned to Musk to greet him.
Musk then appeared to shrug as Trump said: “So Elon, I’ve heard you wanted to chat.”
Trump suggested, “Let’s try and work out how to get back on track.”
Musk responded to this by nodding his head. The president then clasps his hand and says: “I’ve missed you.”
The two men had not been seen together in public since Musk left his role as a special government employee heading DOGE at the end of May.
On June 3, Musk shared his opinion of President Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill” on X, describing it as a “disgusting abomination” that would add to the national debt.
“I’m sorry, but I just can’t stand it anymore,” the Tesla and SpaceX CEO wrote, just days after leaving the Trump administration. “This massive, outrageous, pork-filled Congressional spending bill is a disgusting abomination. “Shame on those who voted for it: you know you did wrong. You know it.”
When asked to comment on Musk’s criticism at the time, Trump appeared wistful and a little bit sad as he told reporters he “always liked Elon” and was “very surprised.”
“He knew everything about it. He had no problem with it. All of a sudden he had a problem, and he only developed the problem when he found out that we’re going to have to cut the EV mandate, because that’s billions and billions of dollars,” Trump told reporters during a meeting with Germany’s new Chancellor Friedrich Merz in the Oval Office on June 5.
After this, Musk went on a lengthy social media tirade against Trump, prompting the president to write on Truth Social: “Elon was ‘wearing thin,’ I asked him to leave, I took away his EV Mandate that forced everyone to buy Electric Cars that nobody else wanted (that he knew for months I was going to do!), and he just went CRAZY!”
This spurred more acrimonious back and forth between the two on their platforms until Musk dropped what he called a “really big bomb” about the president and the late disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein.
“@realDonaldTrump is in the Epstein files. That is the real reason they have not been made public,” the billionaire posted. “Have a nice day, DJT!”
Previously, their relationship had been defined not by rancor but by great warmth and mutual admiration, with Musk and his 5-year-old son “Lil X” frequently seen at the White House.
President Trump seemed to downplay the tender moment when asked Monday whether Kirk’s death had brought the two back together.
“Well, Elon came over and said hello, but no it has nothing to do with that,” the president told reporters. “I thought it was nice. He came over, we had a little conversation. We had a really good relationship, but it was nice that he came over.”