US President Donald Trump was seen conversing with his former close associate and billionaire Elon Musk, who attended the memorial service for right-wing activist Charlie Kirk, from his box at State Farm Stadium, which was located high above the field and covered with protective glass. Naturally, watching this tête-à-tête, the media wondered if a… reconnection might be imminent and the former collaborators might join forces again.
The American president shook hands and spoke with Musk, who once led the president’s so-called Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). Video of Trump and Musk was shared by the official White House account on social media platform X, which is owned by Musk. It’s worth noting that Musk donated more than $270 million to Trump’s election campaign, helping secure key swing states for the Republican.
NEW: President Trump and Elon Musk were spotted sitting together and chatting during a surprise reunion at Charlie Kirk’s memorial. pic.twitter.com/5asd3mTiJF
— Fox News (@FoxNews) September 21, 2025
Trump-Musk tête-à-tête: the conversation about “Charlie”
After the election, he oversaw the launch of DOGE, a controversial initiative that eliminated thousands of government jobs, which the organization deemed part of a pattern of waste, fraud, and abuse.
But Musk came into conflict with Trump over the White House’s signature tax and spending bill, which Musk called a “disgusting abomination,” “completely irrational and destructive.” The unusual feud, which played out largely through social media, led Musk to accuse Trump of being named in the so-called “Epstein files” – documents related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. In July, Trump said he would “consider” the idea of deporting Musk.
Following the dispute, Musk went so far as to announce he was starting his own party, but so far not much has materialized. Musk posted a photo on his X account of himself and Trump sitting together at the memorial, writing in the caption: “For Charlie.”
It’s unknown whether Sunday’s meeting was the first between the two men since they “broke up.”
