Elon Musk is set to receive the National Medal of Science from President Donald Trump on Thursday afternoon, a development that signals the tech billionaire has re-entered the administration's good graces following a sharp public dispute last year. Sources familiar with the relationship describe the previous friction as "water under the bridge," indicating a restoration of the close ties formed during the 2024 election cycle and the subsequent creation of the Department of Government Efficiency.
Musk, who leads Tesla, SpaceX, and X, joined the administration after Trump's reelection to oversee federal spending cuts. During that period, their relationship was notably warm, culminating in Trump presenting Musk with a ceremonial golden key to the White House. However, tensions escalated in 2025 over the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. Musk viewed the legislation's spending provisions as contradictory to DOGE's mission of reducing waste. On June 3, 2025, he posted on X calling the bill a "disgusting abomination" and urged followers to "KILL THE BILL." Trump responded by stating that Musk had "worn thin" on him and went "CRAZY" after the administration rolled back a Biden-era electric vehicle mandate. Musk countered by accusing Trump of ingratitude, noting that his America PAC had funded Republican campaigns to the tune of nearly $300 million.
The fallout appeared to remove Musk from the inner circle. A former White House official told Fox News Digital that Musk was "completely removed from the White House fold" and no longer occupied his space in the Eisenhower Executive Office Space. The official compared the situation to Trump's recent reconciliation with his former attorney Michael Cohen, suggesting that Trump often revives relationships despite prior conflicts. However, a current administration official disputed the notion that Musk was entirely excluded, stating that he has been seen at the White House recently. This official attributed Musk's presence partly to his financial support for Republican candidates in the upcoming 2026 midterm elections.
Musk has made several high-profile appearances in recent weeks, including at the launch of America.gov in late September and at Trump's state dinner with Chinese President Xi Jinping last month, where he was seated at the president's table. The upcoming award is described by White House spokesperson Liz Huston as recognition for leaders helping ensure America keeps leading in innovation. Fox News Digital first reported that Trump is slated to present the National Medal of Science, the nation's top honor for scientific and technological achievement, to Musk.