Is the Trump-Musk bromance back? Mar-a-Lago dinner fuels speculation

After Trump’s victory, Musk was appointed to advise the administration on reducing federal spending, including through the creation of DOGE. (File photo)

President Donald Trump and Tesla CEO Elon Musk appear to have repaired their previously strained relationship after the tech billionaire shared a social media post indicating the two had recently met.

In a post on microblogging site X on Sunday, Musk said he had dinner with President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump at Mar-a-Lago in Florida on Saturday night. “Had a lovely dinner last night with @POTUS and @FLOTUS,” Musk wrote, adding, “2026 is going to be amazing!”

Had a lovely dinner last night with @POTUS and @FLOTUS.

2026 is going to be amazing! pic.twitter.com/1Oq35b1PEC — Elon Musk (@elonmusk) January 4, 2026

The post, accompanied by a photograph from the event, fuelled speculation that relations between the two men have improved after months of public disagreement.

The dinner followed Musk’s public praise for Trump earlier on Saturday after US forces carried out a military operation in Venezuela that resulted in the capture of President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores.

Musk had reposted a White House-shared image showing Maduro blindfolded aboard the USS Iwo Jima, writing, “Congratulations, President Trump! This is a win for the world and a clear message to evil dictators everywhere.”

As per US officials, the operation took place in Caracas in the early hours of Saturday, with military targets struck and Maduro and Flores taken into custody. The two were transported to New York to face federal narcotrafficking charges and are expected to appear in court on Monday.

Speaking at a press conference, Trump said the U.S. would temporarily “run” Venezuela until a “safe, proper and judicious transition” could be ensured. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth later said Washington would “set the terms,” including halting drug trafficking and reclaiming Venezuelan oil assets.

Following Maduro’s capture, Vice President Delcy Rodriguez assumed the role of interim leader and condemned the operation as a violation of international law. “There is only one president in Venezuela and his name is Nicolas Maduro,” she said.

Musk emerged as one of the Republican Party’s largest donors during the 2024 election campaign, contributing hundreds of millions of dollars, according to Reuters. After Trump’s victory, Musk was appointed to advise the administration on reducing federal spending, including through the creation of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).

However, Musk stepped back from the role in mid-2025 amid criticism, and relations soured further when he publicly opposed Trump-backed spending legislation. In a June 3 post, Musk criticised what Trump called his “big beautiful bill,” calling it a “massive, outrageous, pork-filled Congressional spending bill.”

Trump responded at the time by expressing disappointment, saying he was unsure whether their relationship would continue. Musk escalated the dispute by claiming Trump would have lost the election without his support and briefly floated the idea of forming a new political party.

Signs of reconciliation emerged later in 2025, including a public interaction at the memorial service for conservative activist Charlie Kirk and Musk’s attendance at a White House dinner for Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

Trump later softened his stance, telling reporters Musk had “a bad moment” but remained “a good person.” The latest Mar-a-Lago dinner suggests the relationship between the president and the billionaire entrepreneur may now be back on a steadier footing.