President Donald Trump and Tesla CEO Elon Musk appeared together publicly for the first time since their viral falling out, sharing a brief but seemingly warm exchange during Sunday’s memorial service celebrating the legacy of Charlie Kirk.
The memorial held at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, brought hundreds of thousands of Americans together to honor Kirk’s life. But beyond the litany of tributes from America’s leaders, the event also offered a symbolic reunion between Trump and Musk, two men whose alliance has shaped and tested the direction of the Republican party, let alone the country.
Lip reader Nicola Hickling told The Daily Mail that she observed Trump greeting Musk with a casual “How are you doing,” before mentioning he’d heard Musk wanted to talk. Trump then suggested they find a way to move forward. Musk nodded. Trump patted Musk’s knee, adding that he had missed him. Musk, again, nodded in agreement.
The moment, captured on camera and quickly going viral, suggested a possible thaw after months of some icy tension between the duo. Musk posted a photo of himself seated with Trump at the memorial, both slightly smiling at each other, captioning it simply: “For Charlie.”
Their appearance together is a definitive turnaround from the feud that erupted earlier this summer. Musk had previously resigned from his leadership post at the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) in June after clashing with Trump over the President’s “One Big Beautiful Bill.”
Musk would also go on to criticize the bill on X as reckless and, in a heated moment, even accused Trump of being named in unreleased files connected to the contentious Jeffrey Epstein case.
As The Dallas Express previously reported, Musk later walked back those comments, posting a public apology and admitting he had let his frustrations “get the better” of him. At the time, Trump responded that he had “no hard feelings,” leaving the door open for reconciliation.
Sunday’s memorial suggests both men may now be moving toward what could be considered a “relationship reset.”
For Trump, whose administration has relied on Musk’s innovations in technology, and for Musk, whose companies like Tesla and SpaceX depend on stable relationships with Washington, a renewed partnership could be mutually beneficial.
The tribute to Kirk highlighted how both men had worked alongside him to motivate Republican voters during the 2024 election cycle, an effort that proved to be successful.
While neither Trump nor Musk has confirmed the details of their conversation, their cordial interaction on camera is undeniable. What once looked like an irreparable rift may now be turning into one of the most-watched reconciliations in political history.
The White House’s official X account would also post a photo of Musk and Trump together, with the same impactful but straightforward caption: “For Charlie.”