In what seemed to be an attempt to renew ties after a 'fallout' months ago, Tesla CEO took to X on Monday (January 5) with a picture of him having a "lovely dinner' with US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump.
The image was taken at Trump's Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida.
The post
In the post on X, Musk wrote, "Had a lovely dinner last night with @POTUS and @FLOTUS. 2026 is going to be amazing!"
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The meeting came hours after Musk congratulated Trump on capturing Venezuela President Nicolas Maduro. In his post on X on January 3, Musk said, "Congratulations, President Trump! This is a win for the world and a clear message to evil dictators everywhere."
In another post, Musk wrote, "Long overdue prosperity is coming for the people of Venezuela."
After Trump's successful operation, he said that the US would run Venezuela until a "proper and judicious" transition was in effect. Elon Musk, on the other hand, announced that his satellite company, Starlink, would provide free broadband service to users in Venezuela through February 3, ensuring continued connectivity.
When did their relationship turn sour
After the election campaign of 2024, Elon Musk became one of the Republican party's largest donors. He was later appointed by Trump to advise a government efficiency drive and help in setting up Department of Government Efficiency (DOE). The DOGE was aimed at cutting federal spending and streamlining of operations.
However, by mid-2025, Musk stepped down from the role amid criticism. Their relationship turned even more sour after Musk attacked the spending proposals of Trump. He called the Congressional Spending Bill a "disgusting abomination". In a post on X on June 3, Musk said, "I’m sorry, but I just can’t stand it anymore. 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."
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Trump responded to Musk's post and called it "very disappointing" while adding, "Elon and I had a great relationship. I don't know if we will anymore."
At one point, Musk even claimed that Trump would not even have won the poll without his support and floated the idea of launching his very own party.
However, by 2025 end, their relationship softened as they were seen shaking hands at a memorial service in Arizona.
