Trump Signals Thaw With Elon Musk; AI Stakes Loom

President Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One that he “likes” Elon Musk and called their earlier public feud a “very stupid” moment, saying he suspects he will always like him. The two were seen exchanging conciliatory gestures at Charlie Kirk’s September memorial, signaling a thaw after their high-profile split. Their falling-out stemmed from policy clashes—Musk criticized a spending bill, left his advisory role in the Department of Government Efficiency, and made (and partly retracted) explosive claims about the 2024 election. Musk has since expressed regret for some posts and tensions have eased, though commentators question whether the rapprochement reflects politics, business, or both. Observers also warn the warmer ties could matter for Musk’s tech and AI projects (xAI’s Grok, Tesla FSD) and for broader debates over AI regulation.