Elon Musk Joins Trump’s White House Dinner for Saudi Crown Prince

In a development that signals a potential reset in one of America’s most high-profile political-business relationships, Elon Musk attended a White House dinner hosted by US President Donald Trump in honour of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

This marked Musk’s second public appearance with Trump since their very public fallout earlier this year—fueling speculation that the two may be working to repair their fractured alliance.

FROM CLOSE ADVISER TO BITTER CRITIC

After funding and supporting Trump's election win, Musk emerged as one of the president’s closest advisers in 2025, heading the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) and driving aggressive cuts in federal jobs and spending.

But the relationship quickly soured.

Musk criticised Trump’s sweeping tax-and-spending package as “fiscally disastrous” and even hinted at launching a new political party. Trump retaliated by threatening to halt federal subsidies to Tesla, SpaceX and other Musk-led ventures—funding critical to their operations.

Analysts said the feud, combined with Musk’s increasingly polarising political rhetoric, dented Tesla’s public image, weakened sales and contributed to a slide in its stock price.

A POSSIBLE THAW

Despite months of distance, Musk and Trump appeared together briefly in September at a memorial service for conservative figure Charlie Kirk. Tuesday’s dinner, however, was their most significant joint appearance since their clash—prompting questions over whether a strategic rapprochement is underway.

President Trump hosted the Saudi Crown Prince as Riyadh works to rebuild global goodwill and strengthen ties with Washington. The star-studded guest list included Cristiano Ronaldo and Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, signaling the dinner’s diplomatic and corporate significance.

Musk’s attendance has raised eyebrows across political and business circles—suggesting that the once-combative relationship with Trump may be stabilising at a time when both leaders face critical strategic and economic decisions.