Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, shared an intimate dinner with President Donald J. Trump at his Mar-a-Lago estate this weekend, less than 72 hours after a dramatic U.S. military operation ousted and captured Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro.
Elite Delta Force operatives stormed Maduro’s fortified residence in Caracas’s Fuerte Tiuna complex under the cover of night, disabling air defenses with precision strikes and capturing the beleaguered leader as he attempted a frantic escape.
Handcuffed and blindfolded, Maduro was whisked aboard the USS Iwo Jima and flown to New York, where he now faces federal charges for narco-terrorism, cocaine importation, and ties to terrorist-designated groups like the Cartel de los Soles and Tren de Aragua.
His wife, Cilia Flores, accompanied him into custody at Brooklyn’s Metropolitan Detention Center, marking the end of a regime that has plagued Venezuela with economic collapse, repression, and alleged election theft since the disputed 2024 vote.
The Mar-a-Lago dinner, which included key Trump advisers and several Silicon Valley executives, was hailed by Musk on social media as a “win for the world” and a decisive message to authoritarian regimes.
“Congratulations, President Trump! This is a win for the world and a clear message to evil dictators everywhere.”
Congratulations, President Trump!
This is a win for the world and a clear message to evil dictators everywhere. https://t.co/GRI0XOxQFU
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) January 3, 2026
At the dinner, President Trump reportedly praised Elon Musk for his support, citing in particular the billionaire’s announcement that Starlink would provide free broadband internet access to Venezuelan citizens.
The remarks followed Musk’s public statement expressing solidarity with the people of Venezuela and confirming that Starlink would offer free broadband services in the country for a limited period.
In support of the people of Venezuela https://t.co/JKxOFWsikP
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) January 4, 2026
Images from the dinner:
Trump had dinner with Elon at Mar-a-Lago and within an hour Starlink was being deployed to Venezuela to aid in the transition and the U.S. oil operation.
He never stops working. It’s amazing. pic.twitter.com/4HaSmEKCSh
— johnny maga (@_johnnymaga) January 4, 2026
President Donald J Trump & First Lady Melania Trump having dinner with Elon Musk last night at Mar-a-Lago! MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!
pic.twitter.com/ByjjDL7W2M
— Michael Solakiewicz (@michaelsolakie) January 4, 2026
Musk and Trump’s partnership began strengthening during Trump’s 2024 presidential campaign. Musk, a vocal supporter, contributed approximately $250 million to pro-Trump efforts and used his platform X to amplify Trump’s messages.
Following Trump’s election victory in November 2024, Musk was appointed to co-lead the newly formed Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), tasked with slashing federal spending and bureaucracy.
This role positioned Musk as a key advisor, with early successes including return-to-office mandates for federal workers and aggressive cost-cutting proposals.
However, in June 2025, Musk publicly criticized Trump’s legislative package for adding to the national debt and reversing budget cuts he had advocated through his role in the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
Trump responded by expressing disappointment, claiming Musk was upset over the bill’s elimination of EV tax credits and subsidies.
The back-and-forth unfolded largely on social media, with Musk posting on X and Trump on Truth Social. Musk escalated by alleging Trump appears in unreleased Jeffrey Epstein files and threatening to decommission SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft.
Trump called Musk “CRAZY,” threatened to terminate billions in government subsidies and contracts for SpaceX and other ventures
Musk apologized publicly, deleted offending posts, and expressed regret for going “too far.”
The two sat side by side during Charlie Kirk’s memorial last year.
Benny Johnson said Elon Musk called for unity.
“Elon came up to all of us and said: ‘If we don’t hang together, we will surely hang separately, so let us unite. I was proud to sit with my President,” Benny Johnson said.
Benny Johnson continued,” So backstage, Elon Musk embraces Erika Kirk and she’s crying in his arms and they’re hugging and it’s really profound. This was after the speeches. This was after the program. And this is the words that Elon Musk said to us in this small little group with Erika Kirk and he said this is why I was proud to sit with my president today.”
“Charlie dreamed of this, uniting Elon Musk and Donald Trump after their falling out. Two powerful men reconciled because of him. Amazing things are happening,” Benny Johnson said.
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