> At a Glance
> – Elon Musk posted a photo from dinner with Donald and Melania Trump on Jan. 4
> – The meal signals a thaw after months of public insults and a DOGE resignation
> – Why it matters: Their on-again alliance could again shape tech and policy headlines
A single social-media snapshot appears to have ended one of 2025’s most visible political spats. Elon Musk shared a Jan. 4 photo taken at Mar-a-Lago showing him dining with President Trump and the first lady, writing simply: “Had a lovely dinner last night with @POTUS and @FLOTUS.”
From DOGE to Detente
Musk led the Department of Government Efficiency from its January launch until Trump announced his exit on May 30, 2025. The department drew fire when 21 civil-service staffers resigned in February, accusing DOGE of using tech talent to “dismantle critical public services.”
Days after leaving the post, Musk blasted the administration’s spending bill:
> “This massive, outrageous, pork-filled Congressional spending bill is a disgusting abomination.”
He escalated further by claiming on X that “@realDonaldTrump is in the Epstein files.” Musk deleted the post, but the White House labeled the remark an “unfortunate episode.”
Months of Hostility
- June: A Trump-world source told News Of Los Angeles the relationship had soured “beyond repair”
- July: Musk announced the American Party in protest of Trump’s domestic bill
- September: Trump called Musk a “train wreck” who had gone “off the rails”
By November, both men began softening. At the U.S.-Saudi Investment Forum, Trump joked, “You are so lucky I am with you, Elon,” while touting Tesla tax deductions in the spending package. Musk later posted:
> “I would like to thank President Trump for all he has done for America and the world.”
Key Takeaways
- Musk’s Jan. 4 photo marks the first public reunion since their bitter split
- The pair previously collaborated on cutting federal costs through the DOGE initiative
- Their renewed rapport could influence tech and regulatory policy heading into 2026
Whether the dinner signals genuine reconciliation or mutual convenience, the tech billionaire and the commander-in-chief are once again on speaking-and posting-terms.
