U.S. President Donald Trump is set to award the National Medal of Science to Elon Musk today, signaling a complete restoration of ties between the White House and the head of Tesla and SpaceX. The move follows a period of public tension that peaked in early summer 2025.
The Reconciliation of Musk and Trump
Despite being a major financial supporter of Trump's campaign and leading efforts for drastic public spending cuts, Musk had previously clashed with the president over fiscal policy decisions. However, in recent months, the billionaire has gradually returned to the administration's inner circle, taking on significant new roles.
The Pentagon has recently tasked Musk with identifying technologies and weaponry for future warfare, building on major contracts already held by his companies. Additionally, Musk was among the tech leaders who signed a voluntary AI "code of ethics" at the White House last week.
A Gathering of Tech Giants
The ceremony in Washington D.C. features a prestigious roster of honorees. Joining Musk in receiving the National Medal of Science are:
- Jensen Huang, CEO of Nvidia
- Sergey Brin, Google co-founder
- Lisa Su, CEO of AMD
Simultaneously, Michael Dell (Dell) and Satya Nadella (Microsoft) will be honored with the National Medal of Technology and Innovation. White House spokesperson Liz Houston stated that the administration is "grateful for the contributions of these incredible leaders."
Heritage and Intellect
President Trump linked the awards to his own family legacy, noting that his uncle, John G. Trump—a physicist at MIT—received the same medal in 1983. In a recent interview, the president attributed his often-touted high IQ to the genetic inheritance from his uncle.
