Additional Coverage:
- Elon Musk reacts to Trump’s ‘most beautiful’ aide after cozying up to Melania at state dinner (irishstar.com)
Elon Musk Shows Support for Trump’s Aide Amid White House State Dinner
Elon Musk, the world’s wealthiest individual, appeared to back one of former President Donald Trump’s aides after being seated next to First Lady Melania Trump at Thursday evening’s White House state dinner. The event honored Chinese President Xi Jinping and brought together some of the tech industry’s top figures.
The Tesla and SpaceX CEO attended the dinner despite a well-publicized falling out with Trump last year. During the event, Musk engaged with a social media post from Trump’s special assistant and communications adviser, Margo Martin, 31, who shared a video clip from the dinner.
Martin, described by Trump as “the most beautiful photographer in the world,” posted footage showing Trump presenting President Xi with a photo of former President Joe Biden’s autopen-a device used to sign documents automatically. Trump humorously introduced it to Xi, sparking laughter from the Chinese leader.
The autopen has been a point of contention for Trump, who has repeatedly criticized Biden’s use of the device to sign executive orders and pardons. At one point, Trump even replaced Biden’s portrait in a White House gallery with a photo of the autopen.
Musk reacted to Martin’s video with a simple laughing emoji, signaling his amusement. However, many social media users expressed disapproval, calling the spectacle embarrassing and unworthy of humor.
At the dinner, Musk was seated beside Melania Trump and was seen toasting with her. Other notable tech leaders at the president’s table included Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, former Apple CEO Tim Cook, and Advanced Micro Devices CEO Lisa Su.
Despite past tensions, Musk’s presence and placement at the head table suggest a reconciliation between him and Trump. In fact, Musk previously traveled with Trump on Air Force One during the president’s visit to Beijing in May 2026, indicating ongoing engagement between the two.
This state dinner marked President Xi Jinping’s first visit to the White House in over a decade and was a significant diplomatic occasion, bringing together political and business leaders amid a complex U.S.-China relationship.