Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk has claimed that he received an invitation to a high-profile White House dinner with President Donald Trump and leading technology executives, despite not being listed on the official guest list.
Musk, who previously served as a Trump adviser before their public split earlier this year, said he was invited to the event, which included heads of major tech firms such as Alphabet (Google), Apple, Microsoft, and AI leader OpenAI.
"I was invited, but unfortunately could not attend. A representative of mine will be there," the xAI, SpaceX, and Tesla leader said on Thursday, replying to an X user who questioned his absence on the guest list.
Reports from Reuters and The Hill earlier on Thursday said the Tesla and SpaceX chief executive was absent from invitations to the gathering, which brought together some of the most influential figures in Silicon Valley.
Bill gates but not Elon Musk….wtf? https://t.co/3mLD1vKVgv— Natalie F Danelishen (@Chesschick01) September 4, 2025
Apple’s Tim Cook, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella, Meta founder Mark Zuckerberg, Google CEO Sundar Pichai, and Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates, among others, attended the dinner. Also present was Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, widely seen as one of Musk’s main rivals in the field of artificial intelligence.
This follows a public feud between Elon Musk and Trump. Musk’s absence comes months after his resignation as head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), and his claim of an invitation may indicate that ties with the White House are starting to thaw.
The President, seated between Gates and Zuckerberg, praised the gathering. “The most brilliant people are gathered around this table. This is definitely a high-IQ group and I’m very proud of them,” Trump said.
Discover the latest Business News, Sensex, and Nifty updates. Obtain Personal Finance insights, tax queries, and expert opinions on Moneycontrol or download the Moneycontrol App to stay updated!
