Trump Honors Elon Musk With National Medal of Science
The award marks the first time Trump has presented either the National Medal of Science or Technology in his terms.
President Donald Trump presented Elon Musk with the National Medal of Science on Thursday at the White House, marking a significant thaw in their relationship following a public dispute over federal spending and electric vehicle subsidies earlier this year.
What Happened
The ceremony took place during the White House’s "Science: A New Golden Age Summit." Musk received the medal alongside other prominent tech figures, including Google co-founder Sergey Brin, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, and AMD CEO Lisa Su. Dell CEO Michael Dell and Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella were honored with the National Medal of Technology and Innovation. This event represents the first time Trump has handed out either of these awards in either of his presidential terms.
In his speech, Trump praised Musk as "an industrial titan, a brilliant engineer, and one of the greatest technology founders to ever live," comparing him to "our modern-day Thomas Edison." Trump specifically highlighted Tesla, describing it as "the first successful new car manufacturer in over 75 years, producing the first commercially viable electric cars with the first consumer self-driving technology." He also recounted a personal anecdote about calling Musk to deploy Starlink equipment to North Carolina after a hurricane disrupted communications, claiming the intervention saved hundreds of lives.
Why It Matters
The honor signifies a dramatic reversal from the public falling out between the two leaders in summer 2025, which centered on Trump’s spending bill and Musk’s departure from the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). During that period, Trump threatened to end EV subsidies, a move he eventually executed, and questioned SpaceX’s government contracts. Musk has since stated he "got a little too involved in politics" and has refocused on his companies, while the two have recently collaborated on official visits to China.
Despite the warm reception for Musk, Trump’s broader stance on the electric vehicle sector remains mixed. In August, he mocked range anxiety as a "disease" and referred to EV drivers as "crazy" at a rally in Las Vegas, even while expressing support for Musk personally. The award acknowledges Musk’s role in bringing EVs into the mainstream, even as the administration’s policy preferences for the technology have not shifted uniformly to match this personal endorsement.
The Bottom Line
Elon Musk received the National Medal of Science from President Trump, who cited Tesla’s role in creating the first commercially viable electric cars. The event underscores a repaired personal and professional relationship between the two leaders, despite Trump’s continued skepticism of the broader EV market and his previous threats to eliminate EV subsidies.
