1 hour ago
Last Updated:November 19, 2025, 21:04 IST
The US President’s pat on the stomach of the world’s richest man, according to netizens, is being seen as a signal that the billionaire may be returning to the MAGA fold.
The viral White House moment has revived speculation that Trump and Musk may be ending months of public feuding. (IMAGE: X)
US President Donald Trump on Tuesday patted the belly of tech billionaire and the world’s richest man, Elon Musk, while hosting Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman at the White House.
The moment instantly went viral, with many online users wondering whether the bitter rift between Trump and the SpaceX–X–Tesla chief had finally run its course.
“Trump gave Elon the walk-by pat. Physical contact has been established! We are so freaking back," said Autism Capital, a widely followed X account that posts Trump and White House related content, while sharing the video clip.
Trump and Musk were once close allies but split dramatically over the release of the so-called Epstein Files and disagreements surrounding Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill." Musk has also accused the US ambassador, Sergio Gor, of trying to engineer a divide between the two earlier this year.
South African-born Musk spent five months as head of the cost-cutting Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) and accompanied Trump on a trip to Saudi Arabia in May.
Their feud began when Trump accused Musk of opposing the “Big Beautiful Bill" because the legislation sought to end tax breaks for electric vehicles, incentives that directly benefit Tesla. It escalated after Musk claimed Trump was named in the Epstein Files in a June 5 post he later appeared to delete.
Trump grew furious not only at the Epstein insinuation but also at Musk taking credit for Trump’s 2024 election win and even calling for his impeachment. Musk then hit back, calling the Republican Party — now centred entirely around Trump — a “PORKY PIG PARTY," and later suggesting the US under the GOP resembled “a one-party country."
Elon had called for the release of the ‘Epstein Files’, a batch of unreleased documents on Jeffrey Epstein’s network. Trump on Monday walked back months of opposition to opening the case file tied to one of the country’s most notorious scandals, allowing the release of government records on child sex offender Epstein.
Trump also toyed with the idea of deporting Musk earlier this year.
However, the ice began to thaw in September, when the two shook hands during a memorial for assassinated conservative activist Charlie Kirk, hinting that tensions had eased.
This week’s public gesture by the US President has now fuelled renewed speculation that Trump and Musk may finally be ready to bury the hatchet.
Shankhyaneel Sarkar is a Chief Sub-Editor at News18. He covers international affairs, where he focuses on breaking news to in-depth analyses. He has over seven years of experience during which he has covered se...Read More
Shankhyaneel Sarkar is a Chief Sub-Editor at News18. He covers international affairs, where he focuses on breaking news to in-depth analyses. He has over seven years of experience during which he has covered se...
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Location :
Washington D.C., United States of America (USA)
First Published:
November 19, 2025, 21:04 IST
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