The video, shared widely on X and Instagram, shows Trump entering a White House dinner alongside Melania Trump and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman when he suddenly notices Musk standing nearby. Trump reaches out to give the Tesla and X owner a quick tap on the shoulder, and Musk responds with a visible nod and smile.
The interaction lasts only a couple of seconds, but commentators quickly framed it as the symbolic end of months of bad blood between the two men. One widely shared post read, “President Trump tapped Elon Musk on his way in to the White House dinner tonight. Elon’s reaction says it all. The bros are back together.”
From public feud to apparent thaw
Musk’s presence at the event is significant in itself. It marks his first public visit to the White House since a very public falling-out with Trump earlier this year over the administration’s flagship tax and spending package, which Musk had blasted as ruinous for the national debt and hostile to electric vehicle incentives.
Their relationship had deteriorated further on social media, with Musk sharply criticising Trump and even suggesting the president’s name might appear in the Epstein files. For months, the pair traded barbs or pointed jabs online, fuelling speculation that the once-close alliance had collapsed.
Signs of a thaw only emerged in late September when the two briefly spoke at the memorial service for conservative activist Charlie Kirk. By October, Trump was telling reporters he “liked Elon” and described their relationship as “good,” suggesting an off-and-on line of communication had reopened.
A dinner heavy with symbolism and star power
The dinner where the reunion happened was already drawing attention. The guest list included Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and top business leaders such as Apple’s Tim Cook, AMD’s Lisa Su and Nvidia’s Jensen Huang. Jeff Bezos and football star Cristiano Ronaldo were also reported to be in attendance. Trump told guests, “This room is loaded up with the biggest leaders in the world,” underscoring the event’s carefully curated symbolism.
For Musk, the evening coincided with a major announcement: his AI company xAI agreed a multibillion-dollar data-centre deal with Saudi-backed firm Humain, part of a broader package of military and tech agreements unveiled during the crown prince’s visit. The project will create one of xAI’s largest data centres outside the United States.
Why this brief exchange matters
To Trump’s supporters, the shoulder tap and easy body language signal the restoration of a potent political and cultural alliance between the president and one of the world’s most influential tech magnates. To critics, it is another reminder of how personal relationships and viral optics shape policy narratives in Washington as much as formal statements or official communiqués.
Either way, the clip has locked in a simple message for online audiences: after months of public friction, Trump and Musk appear to be back on the same side.
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