Elon Musk and Donald Trump joined forces to boos and cheers at a memorial event in Glendale, Arizona, over the weekend. The surprise appearance allowed for some serious eyebrow-raising and rumor-fueling that a reconciliation could happen. The meeting was to honor the achievements of Charlie Kirk, the right-wing activist. Unfortunately, he was killed on September 10 in an act of gun violence on a university campus in Utah. Given their very public feud of late, it was notable to see the two high-profile figures together, a clear sign that their relationship has thawed since turning so icy.
The upcoming Trump-Musk confab follows months of escalating and personal insults between the two men. Musk had recently jujitsu Trump by alleging that the former president was listed in the alleged “Epstein files,” which stoked their fiery cold war. Musk took to Twitter to denounce Trump’s hallmark tax and spending bill calling it “utterly insane and destructive.” This comment marked a huge turn of tide from Musk’s previous, unwavering support for Trump. Following their eccentric breakup, Musk declared he’d started his own “America First” party.
In spokes Trump’s first shot against Musk’s electoral pivot came in July. He had offered to “consider” deporting Musk, a sign of how quickly the war had escalated between them. On that day of remembering, the mood was pretty friendly as they reminisced. Musk later posted an image on his social media platform X, showing him and Trump seated side by side, captioning it simply: “For Charlie.”
Their past collaboration had been notable. Musk had donated over $270 million to Trump’s presidential campaign and even led the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) after Trump’s election. As DOGE sought to do under Musk’s leadership, such cuts would target government work Musk himself deemed wasteful, fraud-ridden, or abusive. This program was an early indicator of Musk’s dedication to advancing Trump’s agenda even before their very public falling out.
The official White House account shared a short video of the two former allies reunited on X (formerly Twitter). That’s a good sign, because it means some of the officials we encountered came away from our interaction feeling positively. Many observers called attention to the overtly political display. They viewed it as an effort to repair relations amidst the political storm clouds that had characterized their previous relationship.
Both men are playing serious chess with their respective political and business environments. What long-term impact, if any, their meeting has remains to be seen. The memorial service for Charlie Kirk would be the backdrop for this historic moment. Musk and Trump were clearly willing to look past their differences, at least for a bit.