Donald Trump welcomed some of the most powerful US tech leaders to a White House dinner Thursday night, but the absence of Tesla CEO Elon Musk, once a constant fixture in Trump’s orbit, marked a striking change.
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Musk Skips the Event
The dinner brought together Meta’s Mark Zuckerberg, Microsoft’s Bill Gates, Apple’s Tim Cook, and OpenAI’s Sam Altman. Musk, who was once Trump’s favored guest at such events, confirmed on X that he had been invited but “could not make it,” sending a representative instead. He spent the evening posting attacks on immigration and transgender rights. The White House offered no comment on his absence.
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From Insider to Outsider
Only months ago, Trump joked that “Elon won’t go home, I can’t get rid of him.” But the empty chair at the state dining room underscored how their relationship has soured since their public falling out in May. Musk had played a central role in Trump’s administration, even leading a “department of government efficiency” tasked with dismantling federal agencies after the 2024 election. Now, his influence in Washington has visibly waned.
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A History of Snubs
Musk’s exclusion evoked memories of 2022, when then-President Joe Biden left him off the guest list for an EV summit. At the time, Musk railed against the snub, aligning himself more closely with Republicans. That moment, which he has repeatedly referenced online, marked the start of his political shift to the right and his eventual alliance with Trump.
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Fallout From Public Spat
Their partnership unraveled earlier this year over Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill,” followed by Musk accusing the president of ties to Jeffrey Epstein. Since then, Musk has been largely absent from government events. Trump still calls him a “genius,” but recently told reporters Musk has “got some problems.”
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Rivals Move In
While Musk recedes from Trump’s inner circle, other tech leaders are filling the gap. Apple’s Tim Cook recently gifted the president a 24-karat-gold souvenir, and aides have discussed curbing Musk’s government contracts, though reviews showed such cuts would disrupt vital operations.
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Legal Feuds Add Tension
Even if Musk had attended, tensions would have run high. He is suing Apple and OpenAI, both represented at the dinner, and has attacked Gates for his ties to Jeffrey Epstein after the Microsoft co-founder accused him of harming children through foreign aid cuts. His feuds with rivals mirror his deteriorating ties with Trump.