President Trump, Elon Musk Reunite with Surprise Handshake at Charlie Kirk Memorial Following Months-Long Feud
In a moment that stunned onlookers and sent shockwaves through political and tech circles alike, President Donald Trump and Elon Musk were seen sitting together and even shaking hands during the funeral service for Charlie Kirk on Sunday — their first public interaction since a bitter and highly publicized feud earlier this year.
The two influential figures were among the more than 78,000 mourners who packed Arizona‘s State Farm Stadium to honor the life of the slain Turning Point USA founder. An additional 100,000-plus supporters gathered in overflow locations nearby, many waiting since before dawn to pay their respects.
Musk, 54, was first spotted seated alone in the stands before being joined by President Trump. Cameras caught the moment as Trump reached out to Musk, and the two exchanged a brief but seemingly sincere handshake. While the exact words exchanged were not picked up, the gesture alone suggested a possible thaw in what had been a deeply fractured relationship.
.@POTUS and @elonmusk at Charlie Kirk’s memorial service ???? pic.twitter.com/MhJziFujev
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) September 21, 2025
The handshake comes just four months after Musk resigned from his post as head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) in late May — a resignation that set off a public war of words between the tech billionaire and the president who once championed him.
The fallout was swift and brutal. Musk criticized Trump’s sweeping “Big Beautiful Bill,” accusing it of undermining the very budget reform initiatives DOGE was designed to promote. He went further, calling for the president’s impeachment and hinting at the creation of a third political force to challenge the GOP establishment.
Trump, never one to back down from a challenge, fired back. He accused Musk of being “deranged,” threatened to terminate federal contracts with Tesla and SpaceX, and even made plans to auction off his prized red Tesla Model S — a car he had once proudly bought to show solidarity with Musk’s innovations.
The feud played out over several weeks on Musk’s own platform, X, where the former allies exchanged increasingly hostile jabs. At one point, Musk even aligned himself with Trump’s libertarian-leaning congressional nemesis, Rep. Thomas Massie — a move that infuriated the president and prompted renewed calls to oust Massie in the upcoming midterms.
That’s what made Sunday’s handshake so shocking.
The brief, understated exchange — which took place amid an emotional and patriotic celebration of Charlie Kirk’s life — was more than just a gesture. It was a moment of national symbolism: two titans of their respective arenas, coming together, however briefly, at a time of shared mourning and reflection.
President Trump, Vice President JD Vance, and Erika Kirk, the late activist’s widow, all spoke during the event, paying tribute to the 31-year-old conservative firebrand who was assassinated while speaking at Utah Valley University earlier this month.
Kirk’s death has become a rallying point for the conservative movement. His meteoric rise from suburban Illinois dropout to a $95 million political empire-builder left an indelible mark on the landscape of American youth politics.
The massive crowd at the memorial — many draped in red, white, and blue — braved hours in the sweltering Arizona heat to honor Kirk’s legacy. Some mourners reportedly parked miles away and walked to the stadium. Inside, they witnessed not just a remembrance, but a rare display of unity from two men whose clash had divided parts of the movement.
Whether Trump and Musk’s handshake signals a true reconciliation remains to be seen. But for at least one afternoon, in a packed stadium filled with grief and resolve, the past was set aside — and the focus turned to the future Charlie Kirk helped shape.