Trump and Musk meet at Charlie Kirk memorial, raising questions about their ties

Former President Donald Trump and tech billionaire Elon Musk were seen speaking at the memorial service for conservative activist Charlie Kirk on Sunday. The brief exchange between the two men, once allies and later critics of each other, has sparked fresh talks about their future relationship.

The memorial was held at State Farm Stadium in Glendale and was attended by tens of thousands of people. It included speeches by politicians, religious leaders, and Kirk’s family and friends.

Charlie Kirk, 31, co-founded Turning Point USA, a conservative youth group. He was shot dead on September 10 in an attack that shocked many across the country. Kirk’s wife, Erika Kirk, gave an emotional speech. She broke down several times and ended her eulogy by saying, “I forgive him,” referring to her husband’s killer. The crowd gave her a standing ovation.
One of the key moments of the memorial was the meeting between Trump and Musk. They were seen shaking hands and speaking briefly. The video was shared by the White House on the social media platform X, which is owned by Musk. Later, Musk posted a photo of their meeting on X, writing, “For Charlie.”

A user on the platform claimed to have used lip reading to understand what was said. According to the user, Trump greeted Musk with, “How are you doing?” and added, “So Elon, I’ve heard you wanted to chat.” Trump then reportedly said, “Let’s try and work out how to get back on track.” Musk nodded in response. Trump ended the conversation by saying, “I’ve missed you.” The claims have not been confirmed by either Trump or Musk.

Musk had once donated over $270 million to Trump’s campaign and even helped with campaign rallies in key states. He later served in Trump’s second administration, heading the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), which aimed to cut government spending.

But the relationship broke down after Musk criticized Trump’s tax policies and made statements linking him to the “Epstein files.” In return, Trump said he would “take a look” at deporting Musk. Musk later announced his plan to form a new political group called the “America First” party.

Neither Trump nor Musk has made any public statement about their meeting at the memorial. However, the brief exchange has led to speculation about whether they may be planning to work together again, especially as the next election season approaches. For now, it remains unclear whether this was just a polite meeting or the start of something more.