Elon Musk attended a White House dinner with President Donald Trump and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, marking their second public appearance after a public falling-out earlier this year. Musk had supported Trump’s campaign and briefly served as an adviser, linked with a Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). The relationship soured after Musk criticized Trump’s fiscal plans and signaled plans for a new party; analysts say the dispute hurt Tesla’s brand and stock. The guest list also included Cristiano Ronaldo and Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang.
Elon Musk Joins Trump and Saudi Crown Prince at White House Dinner — A Possible Thaw
Elon Musk attended a White House dinner with President Donald Trump and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, marking their second public appearance after a public falling-out earlier this year. Musk had supported Trump’s campaign and briefly served as an adviser, linked with a Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). The relationship soured after Musk criticized Trump’s fiscal plans and signaled plans for a new party; analysts say the dispute hurt Tesla’s brand and stock. The guest list also included Cristiano Ronaldo and Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang.
09:33 AM, 11/19/2025Politics
Elon Musk attended a White House dinner on Tuesday hosted by President Donald Trump, which also included Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. It was only the second time the pair have appeared together publicly since a high-profile falling-out earlier this year, and Musk's presence could signal a tentative reconciliation.
Background
Last year Musk supported and provided funding for Trump’s campaign. Early this year he served as a close adviser to the administration and was associated with a newly named Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), participating in discussions about cutting federal spending and trimming government jobs.
The relationship quickly soured after Musk publicly criticized Trump’s sweeping tax-and-spending bill as fiscally reckless and said he planned to form a new political party. Trump responded by threatening to withdraw billions of dollars in federal subsidies that benefit Musk’s companies. Analysts say the dispute — coupled, they add, with Musk’s controversial political rhetoric — damaged Tesla’s brand perception, weighed on sales and pressured its stock price.
Musk and Trump have had few public interactions since the rupture; they were last seen exchanging a handshake at a memorial for conservative activist Charlie Kirk in September.
The dinner came as Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman seeks to repair his international reputation and strengthen ties with Washington. Other notable guests included Portugal soccer star Cristiano Ronaldo and Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang.
Sources: Steve Holland, Abhirup Roy, Christian Martinez