Trump and Musk Appear to Mend Fences

President Donald Trump hinted at a possible reconciliation with Elon Musk during a speech on Wednesday, just a day after Musk attended a White House dinner. Their relationship had been strained earlier this year after Musk left his role as head of the Department of Government Efficiency.

Continuing his speech at the U.S.-Saudi Investment Forum, Trump remarked, “Elon, I’m so lucky to have you with me. Has he ever properly thanked me?” He went on to mention a mandate suggesting all vehicles should be electric by 2030, a notion Musk deemed absurd.

These comments were made alongside Trump’s discussion of a substantial tax measure, the “big and beautiful bill,” which was enacted in July. This legislation offers a new tax credit for auto loans from 2025 to 2028, enabling buyers to deduct up to $10,000 in interest on eligible loans for new vehicles.

After Trump spoke, Musk expressed his gratitude on X, stating, “I want to thank President Trump for everything he has done for America and the world.”

Tensions reached a peak in May when the two publicly clashed over the “big, beautiful bill.” Musk criticized it amid concerns that it might worsen the federal deficit while Trump downplayed Musk’s concerns regarding provisions that could eliminate electric vehicle tax credits benefitting companies like Tesla.

In their earlier exchanges, Musk accused Trump of needing his support to win the 2024 election, while Trump labeled Musk as “crazy” for his stances on vehicle financing.

Interestingly, the two were spotted together at a funeral in Arizona in September. Recently, Musk attended a dinner at the White House during the visit of Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, alongside other tech leaders like Apple’s Tim Cook and Dell’s Michael Dell.

As of now, neither the White House nor Musk’s representatives have provided further comments on their evolving relationship.