At Charlie Kirk’s memorial in Arizona, one of the most striking moments came when President Trump and Elon Musk were seen together for the first time since their falling out earlier this year. The two shook hands, spoke briefly, and even posed for a photo that Musk shared with the caption, “For Charlie.”
Their reunion was more than symbolic. For months, the relationship between Trump and Musk had been marked by tension. Musk had resigned from his role in the Trump administration’s DOGE after clashing with the president over spending priorities. The disagreement spilled into public view, with Musk openly criticizing Trump’s “Big, Beautiful Bill” and Trump bristling at Musk’s challenges.
Charlie Kirk had always believed they would reconcile. In a television interview not long before his death, he said, “I actually think they’re going to reconcile at some point, because, deep down, I would like to believe they both want the same thing.” He admitted it was painful to watch the feud play out, but insisted the two men were more aligned than divided.
On Sunday, Kirk’s words seemed to echo through the stadium. Cameras caught Trump leaning in to greet Musk, asking how he was doing and suggesting they “get back on track.” Musk smiled, and Trump added, “I’ve missed you.” Later, Trump described it simply: Musk came over to say hello, and he thought it was a nice moment.
For those who admired Kirk, the exchange felt like a fulfillment of one of his hopes. He often saw his role as building bridges and holding together a movement that could easily fracture under the weight of personalities and disagreements. In death, his influence managed to do what politics had not, which was bring Trump and Musk back into the same orbit, if only for a day.
Trump was later asked for comment on the reunion by a reporter:
Whether the reunion leads to something more lasting is still unclear. The specific policy differences that divided them remain unresolved. But at Kirk’s memorial, they stood together once again, united in honoring the man who believed they would find common ground.