The relationship between President Donald Trump and Elon Musk has changed many times over the last ten years. They started as critics, became close allies during the 2024 election, and then had a major public fight in 2025. Today, in early 2026, the two billionaires appear to be back on good terms following a successful military operation in Venezuela and several private meetings.
Early Years and First Disagreements
In 2016, Musk was a critic of Trump, saying he was “not the right guy” for the presidency. However, after Trump won his first term, Musk joined two of his business advisory boards. This partnership ended quickly in 2017 when Musk quit in protest after Trump pulled the U.S. out of the Paris climate agreement. By 2020, their relationship improved as Trump praised Musk’s work with rockets and electric cars, calling him “one of our great geniuses.”
The 2024 Alliance and “DOGE”
The 2024 election marked the closest period for the two men. Musk fully endorsed Trump after an assassination attempt in July 2024 and donated over $200 million to help the campaign. After Trump won, Musk was a constant presence at Mar-a-Lago and was chosen to lead the “Department of Government Efficiency” (DOGE) alongside Vivek Ramaswamy. During this time, Musk even referred to himself as the “First Buddy.”
The 2025 Fallout and Recent Reunion
In mid-2025, the friendship broke down over a major government spending bill. Musk criticized the “Big Beautiful Bill” for increasing the national debt, leading to a month of public insults. Musk even threatened to start a new political party, and Trump threatened to cut off government contracts for SpaceX and Tesla.
Tensions began to cool by late 2025 after the two met at a memorial service in September. By November, Musk was attending White House dinners again. Most recently, on January 3, 2026, Musk publicly supported Trump’s decision to raid Venezuela and capture Nicolás Maduro. Musk celebrated the move on X (formerly Twitter) and later shared a photo of a dinner he had with the President and Melania Trump at Mar-a-Lago, showing their relationship is once again strong.
