The memorial service for conservative activist Charlie Kirk featured a notable reunion as US President Donald Trump and billionaire Elon Musk — former allies — sat together and shared a brief interaction.
Musk, the world’s richest person who led the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) in the Trump administration before he left, took a seat beside the president in his private box as Secretary of War Pete Hegseth began speaking, NBC reported. Ultimate Fighting Championship CEO Dana White was also present in the box. Musk left his seat at the conclusion of Hegseth’s remarks.
The interaction appeared cordial, marking the first public sighting of Musk and Trump together since the president honoured the Tesla and SpaceX CEO in May at the conclusion of his DOGE stint.
In the months following, the two had engaged in public disagreements over policy and politics, with Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill” cited as a key point of contention. Musk, who owns social media platform X (formerly Twitter), has also called for the release of convicted sex criminal Jeffrey Epstein’s so-called “Epstein Files,” which allegedly names Trump among others.
Kirk, a prominent conservative activist, was shot dead during a campus event on September 10. The FBI has charged 22-year-old Tyler Robinson with his murder. The memorial service is being held at the 63,000-seater State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona.
Musk, the world’s richest person who led the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) in the Trump administration before he left, took a seat beside the president in his private box as Secretary of War Pete Hegseth began speaking, NBC reported. Ultimate Fighting Championship CEO Dana White was also present in the box. Musk left his seat at the conclusion of Hegseth’s remarks.
.@POTUS and @elonmusk at Charlie Kirk's memorial service ❤️🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/MhJziFujev
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) September 21, 2025
The interaction appeared cordial, marking the first public sighting of Musk and Trump together since the president honoured the Tesla and SpaceX CEO in May at the conclusion of his DOGE stint.
In the months following, the two had engaged in public disagreements over policy and politics, with Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill” cited as a key point of contention. Musk, who owns social media platform X (formerly Twitter), has also called for the release of convicted sex criminal Jeffrey Epstein’s so-called “Epstein Files,” which allegedly names Trump among others.
Kirk, a prominent conservative activist, was shot dead during a campus event on September 10. The FBI has charged 22-year-old Tyler Robinson with his murder. The memorial service is being held at the 63,000-seater State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona.
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