Trump and Musk Reconcile at Charlie Kirk Memorial

President Donald Trump and Tesla CEO Elon Musk publicly reunited for the first time since their bitter falling-out at the memorial service for slain conservative activist Charlie Kirk on September 21, 2025, at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. The reconciliation fulfilled Kirk’s longtime wish for the two former allies to mend their relationship, something he had openly advocated before his assassination on September 10.

Kirk’s role as peacemaker

Charlie Kirk, the 31-year-old founder of Turning Point USA, had positioned himself as an intermediary between Musk and Trump throughout their feud. In a June conversation with commentator Megyn Kelly, Kirk expressed optimism about reconciling the two figures: “I know both these guys… I am hopeful, optimistic, and will do everything I possibly can to try and bring this back together”. Kirk had maintained that both men were “stronger together” and predicted they would eventually reconcile.

The memorial service

The massive memorial service drew over 90,000 attendees to State Farm Stadium, with overflow crowds directed to Desert Diamond Arena. The Department of Homeland Security designated the event as a “Special Event Assessment Rating Level 1,” the same classification given to major events like the Super Bowl. The service combined elements of a religious revival, political rally, and memorial, featuring Christian music performances and speeches from prominent conservative figures including Vice President JD Vance, Stephen Miller, and Marco Rubio.

During the service, Musk approached Trump in the president’s box and sat beside him, where they were seen shaking hands and engaging in conversation. This marked their first public interaction since their feud erupted in June 2025. Both men later posted photos of their meeting on social media with the caption “For Charlie”.

The Trump-Musk feud

The relationship between Trump and Musk had deteriorated dramatically over Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill,” a massive spending package that Musk criticized for adding to the national debt and eliminating tax incentives for electric vehicles and solar energy. The feud escalated publicly in June, with Musk suggesting Trump should be impeached, claiming credit for Trump’s 2024 election victory, and alleging Trump was in the Jeffrey Epstein files.

Musk’s most dramatic threat involved potentially decommissioning SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft, which the federal government relies on for International Space Station missions. In response, Trump threatened to use the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), ironically, an agency Musk had helped establish, to investigate subsidies for Musk’s companies.

By July 2025, Trump had escalated the feud further, stating at a rally in Michigan, “Maybe it’s time he went back to where he came from,” referring to Musk’s South African birth. Trump also called Musk a “train wreck” who had gone “completely off the rails”.

Musk’s America party

Following the feud, Musk announced the formation of the “America Party” on July 5, 2025, positioning it as an alternative to what he called the “uniparty system” of Republicans and Democrats. Musk stated the party would focus on deficit reduction and fiscal conservatism, though he remained vague on specific platform details. However, by August 2025, reports suggested Musk was reconsidering the party’s formation and contemplating backing JD Vance for the 2028 presidential election.

The assassination that changed everything

Charlie Kirk was assassinated on September 10, 2025, while speaking at Utah Valley University as part of his “American Comeback Tour”. At 12:23 p.m., a single shot fired from the roof of the Losee Center struck Kirk in the neck while he was debating a student about mass shootings. The shooter, identified as 22-year-old Tyler Robinson, had allegedly developed an “obsession” with Kirk and tracked his public appearances.

Robinson, who had recently become more politically active and supportive of LGBTQ+ rights, told investigators he killed Kirk because “there is too much evil and the guy spreads too much hate”. He was charged with aggravated murder and other felonies, with prosecutors seeking the death penalty.

The reconciliation

At Kirk’s memorial service, conservative commentator Benny Johnson reported that Musk told Trump backstage: “If we don’t stick together, we will certainly fall apart, so let us come together”. This message of unity aligned with Kirk’s widow Erika’s speech at the memorial, where she forgave her husband’s killer and called for reconciliation rather than hatred.

Trump later downplayed the significance of their interaction, telling reporters: “Well, Elon came over and said hello. I thought it was nice that he came over. Had a little conversation. We had a good relationship, but it was nice that he came over”. When asked if Kirk’s death had brought them back together, Trump responded, “No, it’s nothing to do with that”.

The reunion at Kirk’s memorial service could be a potential turning point in the Trump-Musk relationship, though both men have remained cautious about characterizing it as a full reconciliation. Kirk’s assassination has elevated him to martyr status among conservatives, with Trump calling him “our greatest evangelist for American liberty” and stating he had died for “American freedom”.