By Theodore Brown-
WASHINGTON — The turbulent relationship between Donald Trump and Elon Musk appeared to enter a new, warmer phase this week, as the tech billionaire attended a high-profile White House dinner for Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, followed by a public, lighthearted tease from the President at a subsequent forum.
Musk, CEO of Tesla, SpaceX, and X, joined a select group of business leaders, including Apple CEO Tim Cook and Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, at the exclusive event hosted by President Trump to honour the Crown Prince’s first U.S. visit in seven years.
The attendance marks a significant public detente after a bitter public feud earlier this year, during which the two exchanged sharp words over Musk’s departure from a government efficiency role and political disagreements.
AD: Capeesh Restaurant
The most notable moment, however, occurred the following day at the U.S.-Saudi Investment Forum in Washington, D.C.. While delivering a speech, Trump made a playful jab at Musk’s expense, leveraging the occasion to reference their past policy disagreements on electric vehicles.
“You’re so lucky I’m with you, Elon,” Trump said to the crowd, as Musk was in attendance. “Have you ever thanked me properly? Although I do let him buy other than electric cars, but these are minor details. You know, we had a mandate which even Elon thought was ridiculous, that everybody has to have an electric car by 2030”.
The remarks, which drew laughter and went viral online, signal a potential mending of fences between the two influential figures. The White House dinner itself served as a powerful photo opportunity, with images shared by Musk on his social media platform showing him alongside the President, the Crown Prince, and other industry titans.
The president claimed his administration was offering the “middle class a deduction on the interest if they buy one of a nice Tesla car and they borrow the money.” He paused, looked towards Musk and repeated, “You’re so lucky. I’m with you, Elon.” Moments later, he joked, “Although I do let him buy other-than-electric cars, but these are minor details.”
AD: Oysterian Sea Food Restaurant And Bar
Hours later, Musk wrote on X: “I would like to thank President Trump for all he has done for America and the world.”
Musk later took to X to thank the President, writing, “I would like to thank President Trump for all he has done for America and the world”.
Observers note the improved dynamic could have significant implications. The Saudi Public Investment Fund, which has had a frosty relationship with Musk in the past, has recently invested in his X social media platform and AI company, xAI. The appearance with the Crown Prince, who is spearheading Saudi Arabia’s economic diversification, suggests potential future business and diplomatic alignments.
The shift from heated public acrimony to “playful banter” at high-profile events underscores the complex, high-stakes nature of the relationships between political power and technological innovation.
The tension between Donald Trump and Elon Musk has been a volatile, on-again, off-again dynamic that recently saw a public feud in mid-2025, followed by a period of reconciliation. Their relationship shifted from mutual public criticism in 2022 to a close alliance during the 2024 election, and then escalated into a bitter public conflict due to policy disagreements in June 2025.
Initially, the two men exchanged barbs, with Musk calling Trump “too old” for the presidency in 2022 and Trump calling Musk a “bullshit artist”. Musk left Trump’s business advisory councils in 2017 over the withdrawal from the Paris climate agreement.
In a major shift, Musk became one of Trump’s most significant financial and political backers in the 2024 presidential election, contributing over $250 million through super PACs. After Trump’s victory, Musk was appointed to a key advisory role, leading the “Department of Government Efficiency” (DOGE).Musk supported and funded Trump’s election last year and became a close adviser to his administration early this year, leading the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) and overseeing cuts to federal funding and jobs.
The alliance publicly imploded in June 2025 following Musk’s departure from his White House role. The primary point of contention was Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill,” a sweeping tax and spending bill that Musk criticized as a “disgusting abomination” that would increase the national debt. The feud quickly escalated into personal attacks across X (formerly Twitter) and Truth Social, with:
Musk claiming Trump would have lost the election without his help and suggesting, without evidence, that Trump was in the “Epstein files”.
Trump claiming he asked Musk to leave his post, calling him “crazy,” and threatening to terminate the government contracts and subsidies for Musk’s companies like SpaceX and Tesla.
Recent Thaw (September – November 2025): Tensions cooled after a few days of intense public feuding. The two men briefly spoke at a memorial service for conservative activist Charlie Kirk in September 2025. In November 2025, Musk attended a White House dinner with Trump and other tech CEOs, signalling a potential reconciliation, with Trump telling reporters that he has “always liked him.
AD: Heritage And Restaurant Lounge Bar