RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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See the full story · 1 sourcesThe conservative activist Kirk had worked behind the scenes to mend the bitter rift before his shocking slaying
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The grisly assassination of young conservative activist Charlie Kirk played a key role in the reconciliation between President Donald Trump and billionaire supporter Elon Musk, according to a new report.
Kirk was among those in Trump's orbit who worked behind the scenes to mend the rift that developed in June 2025, The Wall Street Journal reports, after Musk's haphazard, Trump-enabled DOGE cuts to government spending enraged members of the president's Cabinet.
The quarrel burst into view when the world's richest person lashed out at Trump on social media, alleging to his 240 million followers that Trump's administration was covering up the extent of the president's ties to the late pedophile Jeffrey Epstein.
The Telsa and SpaceX CEO, who spent more than $290 million on Trump's 2024 re-election, also claimed Trump would have lost without him, saying, “Such ingratitude.”
But after Kirk's fatal shooting on September 10, 2025, Trump and Musk chatted and shook hands at his memorial service, marking the first time they'd been seen in public together since the blow-up.
Since then, the men appear to have rekindled their relationship, with The New York Times reporting last month that Musk — who last year threatened to form a new political party — had authorized his super PAC to spend up to $120 million to help Republicans keep control of the House and Senate.
Musk has also been in talks with Trump's team about what he can do to aid the president, according to Axios , which first reported his plan to spend money on the midterm elections.
Neither the White House, Musk's companies nor Kirk's Turning Point USA organization, now run by his widow, Erica Kirk, immediately returned inquiries Friday from The Independent .
But the White House told the Journal that Trump “has built the greatest coalition in the history of American politics, full of patriots like Elon Musk who are deeply committed to preserving all of the historic accomplishments of this administration.”
Kirk communicated privately with Musk last year as the drama sparked by his social media attacks on Trump played out, as did Vice President JD Vance, White House chief of staff Susie Wiles and first son Donald Trump Jr., the WSJ said, citing unidentified people familiar with the matter.
Days after Musk erupted online, the billionaire called Trump and the men had a positive conversation, although Trump told a senior White House official in September 2025 that he wasn't yet ready to welcome Musk back into his inner circle, according to the WSJ .
That same month, Kirk, 31, was fatally shot while delivering a speech at Utah Valley University in a shocking scene that was recorded on cellphone cameras and seen online by millions of viewers.
Both Trump and Musk attended a memorial service for Kirk at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, and David Sacks — a Musk ally and Trump tech adviser — suggested to Wiles that he could try to get the together, according to the WSJ .
Musk was later photographed sitting in Trump's stadium box, where the two men spoke and shook hands, with Trump patting Musk's elbow before he left.
That night, Musk posted a photo of him with Trump, writing above it, "For Charlie."
Tyler Robinson, 23, is charged with aggravated murder in Kirk’s slaying and is trying to avoid facing the death penalty if convicted.
In November, Musk returned to the White House for a black-tie dinner Trump hosted in honor of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, and in May, Musk was among the high-powered business leaders who traveled on Air Force One during a presidential trip to China.
Musk reportedly chatted with Trump about his plans to build factories in the U.S. and reminisced about how much fun he had during the 2024 presidential race.
Trump's campaign featured a memorable moment when Musk, wearing a black MAGA hat, jumped up and down on stage during a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, where Trump earlier survived an assassination attempt that killed a supporter in the audience.
In a rare, 90-minute interview shortly before Musk's plans for the midterms became public, The Economist ’s editor-in-chief, Zanny Minton Beddoes, asked him if he regretted getting involved in politics .
“I think I got a little too involved in politics. Got carried away, frankly,” he said.
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