In a stunning political reconciliation, billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk returned to the White House on Tuesday evening as President Donald Trump's guest of honour at a candlelit dinner for Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
From Ally to Adversary and Back Again
The Tesla and SpaceX chief, who had been a constant presence during the early months of Trump's second term, experienced an explosive falling out with the president in June. The rupture occurred over what Musk termed the "big, beautiful bill," which he claimed undermined his cost-cutting achievements at the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), where he had attempted to fire large numbers of federal workers.
The world's richest man had become a prominent figure in the MAGA movement after endorsing Trump immediately following the 13th July, 2024 assassination attempt in Butler, Pennsylvania. However, their relationship soured dramatically when Musk asserted that Trump owed his election victory entirely to Musk's financial backing.
"Without me, Trump would have lost the election, Dems would control the House and the Republicans would be 51-49 in the Senate," Musk declared at the time, adding bitterly: "Such ingratitude."
The Epstein Files Bombshell
The conflict escalated dangerously when Musk brought up the sensitive subject of Jeffrey Epstein, the convicted paedophile who died in prison in 2019. In a social media post that sent shockwaves through Washington, Musk declared: "Time to drop a really big bomb. @RealDonaldTrump is in the Epstein files."
He added provocatively: "That is the real reason they have not been made public. Have a nice day, DJT!"
President Trump has consistently denied any incriminating material about him exists in the files, instead pointing to Democratic figures like former President Bill Clinton who were known associates of the disgraced financier. Nevertheless, Trump has resisted authorising their full public release.
Congressional Pressure and Reconciliation
Coinciding with Trump's dinner honouring the Saudi crown prince, Congress passed legislation demanding disclosure of the remaining Epstein documents. The bipartisan bill, sponsored by Republican Representative Thomas Massie and Democratic Representative Ro Khanna, cleared both House and Senate on Tuesday and now awaits the president's signature.
Massie had already drawn Trump's ire by refusing to support the president's "big beautiful bill," prompting Musk to vow he would intervene if Trump backed a primary challenger against the libertarian-leaning congressman.
In recent weeks, signals emerged that the relationship between Trump and Musk was thawing after their June confrontation. The Saudi dinner provided the perfect opportunity for reconciliation, particularly as Trump had previously invited Musk to accompany him to meetings in Riyadh back in May.
The East Room was meticulously prepared for the occasion, featuring three long tables for the honoured guests. Musk's return to the White House inner circle marks another extraordinary chapter in the volatile relationship between two of the world's most powerful figures.
