Musk Returns to Trump's Orbit After Public Feud, Will Receive National Medal of Science

Elon Musk is back in President Donald Trump's fold, with the Tesla and SpaceX CEO set to receive the National Medal of Science on Thursday afternoon. The award, the nation's highest honor for scientific and technological achievement, caps a remarkable reconciliation after a public and bitter falling out between the two men last year.

«Water under the bridge,» one former administration official said of the feud and the subsequent rekindling of the relationship. Several sources familiar with the pair's dynamic say Musk has been steadily re-entering the administration's orbit in recent months, appearing at high-profile White House events and resuming his role as a major financial backer of Republican candidates.

The rift began in May 2025, when Musk left his post leading the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) after four months. He had joined the administration after Trump's 2024 re-election to spearhead massive federal spending cuts, and the two initially enjoyed a chummy relationship—Trump even presented Musk with a ceremonial golden key to the White House during an Oval Office celebration.

But Musk grew disenchanted with the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, viewing its spending levels as antithetical to DOGE's mission. On June 3, 2025, he took to X, the social media platform he owns, to call the bill a «disgusting abomination.» The following day he wrote, «KILL THE BILL.» Trump fired back, saying Musk had been «wearing thin» on him and had gone «CRAZY» after the administration rolled back what it described as a Biden-era «backdoor electric vehicle mandate.»

Musk then claimed Trump would not have won the 2024 election without his financial support—he had contributed nearly $300 million through his America PAC to Trump and other Republicans—and accused the president of «ingratitude.» He later alleged that Trump was in the infamous Epstein files, though he never provided proof. At that point, a former White House official said Musk was completely removed from the White House fold. «He wasn't in the office at all,» the source said, noting that Musk had previously occupied space in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building alongside other White House staff.

Yet Trump has a history of rekindling old relationships, regardless of how nasty the dustup. In September, he revived his friendship with longtime personal attorney Michael Cohen, despite Cohen's testimony against him in the 2024 «hush money» trial involving Stormy Daniels. A third source familiar with the matter said Musk began getting back into Trump's good graces earlier this year, while a current administration official disputed the characterization that Musk was ever fully out of the fold.

That official said Musk has been seen recently at the White House, partly because he is making good on promises to financially support Republican candidates in the 2026 midterm elections. Musk has made several high-profile appearances in recent weeks. He attended the America.gov launch in late September alongside engineers from the National Design Studio who built the AI-powered website. He also appeared at Trump's state dinner with Chinese President Xi Jinping last month, seated at the president's table.

On Thursday, Trump is slated to award Musk the National Medal of Science. «The Trump administration is grateful for the contributions of these incredible leaders in science and technology,» White House spokesperson Liz Huston said. «These recipients are helping ensure America keeps leading the world in innovation.»

The award ceremony marks the clearest signal yet that the Musk-Trump alliance is fully restored, with the billionaire once again positioned as a key ally ahead of the 2026 midterms.

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Derek Weston

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Derek Weston covers public affairs, politics, business, culture and daily news for Core Memo. The role focuses on verification, context, and clear explanations for readers.

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