Elon Musk has disclosed that he enjoyed a “lovely dinner” with US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump on Saturday evening, just hours after the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. Musk shared a photo of the trio on social media, captioning it: “Had a lovely dinner last night with POTUS and FLOTUS. 2026 is going to be amazing!”
The dinner took place after Trump authorised surprise missile strikes on Caracas early Saturday, which led to the capture of Maduro and First Lady Cilia Flores. They have since been taken to New York to face drug and weapons charges. Trump later held a press conference at Mar-a-Lago, flanked by senior officials, stating that the US would “run” Venezuela until a stable government is established.
The social engagement signals a reconciliation between the two billionaires after a public falling-out last summer. Musk had been a staunch Trump supporter during the 2024 election, donating nearly $290 million to his campaign. He was later appointed to head the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), but left the role in late May amid a feud with Trump over policy and personal insults.
Vice President JD Vance reportedly played a key role in mending the relationship, recognising Musk’s resources as vital to shared goals. Musk recently admitted on a podcast that he would have declined the DOGE role if given a second chance, saying he would have focused on his businesses to avoid the backlash against Tesla.
