In a post shared on X on Jan. 4, Musk wrote, “Had a lovely dinner last night with @POTUS and @FLOTUS”Musk’s recent appearance with Trump follows his stint as the head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) and their subsequent fallout
President Donald Trump and Elon Musk have seemingly rekindled their relationship after their public fallout last year.
In a post shared on X on Sunday, Jan. 4, Musk, 54, wrote, “Had a lovely dinner last night with @POTUS and @FLOTUS.”
The post included a photo of Trump, 79, first lady Melania Trump and Musk sitting at a table eating dinner together.
“2026 is going to be amazing!” the Tesla CEO added.
According to Fox News, the photo was taken on Saturday evening at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida.
Musk’s recent appearance with Trump follows his stint as the head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). The tech titan held the position from January until May 30, 2025, when Trump announced that Musk would be leaving his post once his special government employee contract ended.
Musk’s department faced much criticism. In February, more than 20 civil service employees resigned from DOGE, refusing to use their technical expertise to “dismantle critical public services” in a joint resignation letter obtained by PEOPLE.
The 21 employees, who included engineers, data scientists, designers and product managers, sent the letter to White House chief of staff Susie Wiles.
“We will not use our skills as technologists to compromise core government systems, jeopardize Americans’ sensitive data, or dismantle critical public services,” they wrote. “We will not lend our expertise to carry out or legitimize DOGE’s actions.”
Days after his exit from DOGE, Musk shared his true feelings about the “Big Beautiful Bill.”
“I’m sorry, but I just can’t stand it anymore,” he wrote in an X post at the time. “This massive, outrageous, pork-filled Congressional spending bill is a disgusting abomination. Shame on those who voted for it: you know you did wrong. You know it.”
Musk continued to make explosive comments, writing on X, “Time to drop the really big bomb: @realDonaldTrump is in the Epstein files. That is the real reason they have not been made public. Have a nice day, DJT!”
Trump had been previously linked to disgraced financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, after his name was mentioned seven times in flight logs released in 2025.
Musk later deleted the post referencing Trump and Epstein. In a separate message on X, Epstein’s former lawyer, David Schoen, wrote that his client “had no information to hurt President Trump.”
Later that day, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt called Musk’s claims an “unfortunate episode” in a statement to CNN.
Donald Trump and Elon Musk shake hands during the public memorial service for Charlie Kirk on Sept. 21, 2025.
CHARLY TRIBALLEAU/AFP via Getty
“This is an unfortunate episode from Elon, who is unhappy with the One Big Beautiful Bill because it does not include the policies he wanted,” Leavitt said. “The President is focused on passing this historic piece of legislation and making our country great again.”
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Musk later walked back some of his comments. However, a political source told PEOPLE in June that Musk’s relationship with the Trump White House had soured beyond repair.
“It sort of evolved from love to transactional to now pure avoidance,” the source said.
“And Trump doesn’t forget,” the source added. “He may say something acceptable for public consumption, but after what Elon wrote on social media, and despite his apology, Trump’s relationship with Musk will never again be the same.”
A second source in Trump’s orbit also told PEOPLE: “Nobody trusts you again after you go that nuclear.”
Donald Trump and Elon Musk in the Oval Office of the White House on May 30, 2025.
Francis Chung/Politico/Bloomberg via Getty
The pair continued to feud throughout 2025. On June 6, Trump told CNN that he is “not even thinking about Musk,” adding that he “won’t be speaking to him for a while.”
“He’s got a problem,” Trump said. “The poor guy’s got a problem.”
In July, Musk announced that he was making a new political party, the American Party, in response to Congress passing Trump’s domestic policy bill. In response, Trump called Musk a “train wreck” and accused him of going “off the rails.”
However, the president and the Tesla CEO’s relationship has seemingly begun to mend over the last several months.
The pair were seen together at right-wing activist Charlie Kirk‘s public memorial service on Sept. 21.
Additionally, on Nov. 19, Trump gave an address at the U.S.-Saudi Investment Forum and spoke about the “Big Beautiful Bill,” noting that there will be deductions on domestic car purchases within the government’s behemoth spending plan.
As Trump explained the deduction, he pointed to Musk and said, “If they buy a nice Tesla car and borrow the money —” but then he cut himself off to say, “You are so lucky I am with you, Elon.”
After Trump’s speech, Musk issued a message of gratitude for the president on X. “I would like to thank President Trump for all he has done for America and the world,” he wrote in the Nov. 19 post.