President Trump downplayed his reunion on Sunday with Tesla CEO Elon Musk, a formerly close ally whose public split with the president drew widespread attention earlier this year.
Speaking to reporters on Air Force One, Trump said he appreciated that Musk greeted him at the memorial service for conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
“Well, Elon came over and said hello. No, it’s nothing to do with that,” Trump told reporters, when asked whether Kirk brought the two men back together.
“I thought it was nice, he came over, we had a little conversation,” Trump continued. “We had a very good relationship, but it was nice that he came over.”
Trump and Musk were spotted during the memorial service, speaking in a private suite.
An official White House social media account highlighted their exchange. At one point, Trump and Musk shook hands. Trump also appeared to introduce Musk to Dana White, CEO of the Ultimate Fighting Championship.
It marked the first time the two men had been seen together in public since Musk left his role as a special government employee on acrimonious terms.
Musk departed the Trump administration as head of the Department of Government Efficiency at the end of May, and on his way out was harshly critical of the White House’s signature policy bill, noting it added to the national debt.
After Musk went on a lengthy social media tirade against Trump, the president threatened to cancel federal contracts with Musk’s companies.
The two men, who were seemingly inseparable during Musk’s time in the White House, had spoken on the phone since their falling out.
