From jumping on stage to taking son to Oval Office: 4 Musk-Trump camaraderie moments

A couple of viral moments tech billionaire Elon Musk shared with US President Donald Trump. (Image credit: X)

Billionaire Elon Musk's departure from the Donald Trump administration, where he served as a top advisor, has sparked speculation of differences between the two. Musk announced on X that his time leading the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) is over. He had served as a "special government employee," a role allowing individuals to work in a government capacity for 130 days each year.

The Tesla CEO's differences with the US President was apparent recently when he criticised a legislature that Trump called his “big beautiful bill”. At a time when the equation between the two leaders is allegedly turning sour, here's looking back at a few moments when they made headlines with their on stage and "on camera" chemistry.

1.) Musk jumps on stage during Trump's campaign

At a rally in Pennsylvania, days after an assassination attempt on Trump at the same location, Musk was seen jumping onto the stage as Trump (then the Republican candidate) spoke. A photo clicked at the event not only went viral but also triggered a meme fest. The event garnered significant media attention and became a widely shared meme during Trump’s campaign.

Elon Musk jumps incredibly high, wearing a Dark MAGA hat. pic.twitter.com/a2ZCCpCaFk
SMX (@iam_smx) October 6, 2024

2.) Election Night at Mar-a-Lago

Musk spent election night with Trump at Mar-a-Lago. A photo showing Trump speaking with Musk and UFC President Dana White circulated widely on social media, indicating Musk’s presence in political circles during the election.

Elon Musk with Donald J. Trump on Election Night pic.twitter.com/yoK8YTjVBz America (@america) November 6, 2024

3.) New Year’s Eve: Musk dances with son with Trump in tow 

On New Year’s Eve 2024, Musk celebrated alongside Trump at Mar-a-Lago. A video showing Musk dancing with his son X on his shoulders, while Trump interacted with guests, became a viral highlight of their association.

President Trump, Elon Musk, and Musks son X are celebrating New Years Eve together at Mar-a-Lago.
pic.twitter.com/ZqIesrDoMG Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) January 1, 2025

4.) Musk takes son X to Oval Office

In February 2025, Elon Musk brought his son, X Æ A-Xii (known as "X"), to the Oval Office during a press conference on DOGE. The 4-year-old was seen interacting with objects on the desk, attracting considerable social media attention.

President Trump, @ElonMusk, and little X in the Oval Office pic.twitter.com/zIxS6O0pwX The White House (@WhiteHouse) February 11, 2025

'Big beautiful bill' or 'massive spending bill'

Musk's exit from the Trump administration follows his criticism of what the US President calls his "big beautiful bill". The Tesla CEO said he was disappointed with the legislation, which includes tax cuts and enhanced immigration enforcement. Speaking to CBS, Musk described it as a "massive spending bill" that increases the federal deficit and "undermines the work" of DOGE. "I think a bill can be big or it could be beautiful. But I don't know if it could be both," Musk said.

In response, Trump defended his agenda. He highlighted the complex political negotiations needed to pass the legislation. "Number one, we have to get a lot of votes,” he said. “We can’t be cutting — you know, we need, we need to get a lot of support... I'm not happy about certain aspects of it, but I'm thrilled by other aspects of it. We're going to see what happens."