@wired
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@wired Donald Trump and Elon Musk spoke with each other and shook hands at a memorial event for Charlie Kirk, their first public meeting since a spectacular falling out several months ago. Official White House accounts posted footage and pictures of the interaction on X, which Musk owns, while Musk posted a picture of him with President Trump with the caption, “For Charlie.” Musk, the world’s richest person, spent hundreds of millions of dollars supporting Trump’s 2024 election campaign, and for months oversaw the so-called Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, which has led a wholesale assault on federal agencies. But they had a spectacular falling out in June over legislation that became the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. Tens of thousands of people attended State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona for the memorial service for right-wing activist Kirk, who was shot dead on September 10, featuring addresses from Trump, Vice President JD Vance, and Kirk’s widow, Erika, among others. Speaking to reporters on Air Force One after the memorial, Trump appeared to play down a potential reconciliation with Musk. “I thought it was nice that he came over. Had a little conversation. We had a very good relationship, but it was nice that he came over,” he said, before pivoting to promote a planned UFC event at the White House.
