Trump, Musk Reunite at Charlie Kirk Funeral as Public Feud Persists
A brief exchange between the two figures follows months of public sparring, highlighting tensions within the conservative orbit ahead of elections.
President Donald Trump and billionaire Elon Musk briefly spoke and exchanged a handshake at Charlie Kirk's funeral Sunday in the State Farm Arena in Glendale, Arizona, in a moment that underscored a fragile detente after months of public disputes. Lip-reading analysis described a brief back-and-forth, with Trump telling Musk it was good to talk and Musk replying that the sentiment was mutual, before Trump appeared to usher him away. The president then told Musk he had missed him, and Musk walked away.
Musk and Trump had been publicly feuding since June 2025, with Musk attacking Trump's signature policy initiative, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, arguing it would cost taxpayers millions and swell the national debt. The billionaire also posted a claim, later deleted, that federal authorities held additional information on Trump in the Jeffrey Epstein files, fueling impeachment chatter. Reports described Musk stepping back from his post as head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
At a Michigan rally in July 2025, Trump escalated tensions by disparaging Musk, saying the billionaire should consider returning to the country of his origin.
Inside the State Farm Arena, Trump arrived in a box with his sons Eric and Don Jr. and son-in-law Jared Kushner. The funeral drew more than 60,000 mourners, and as the president entered, the crowd chanted USA, USA, USA.
Charlie Kirk, described as a friend by Trump, led the event's program and has cultivated conservative grassroots networks. The encounter between Trump and Musk, while brief, underscored the delicate balance politicians and tech figures strike in the current U.S. political landscape.