Photos Show Donald Trump And Elon Musk's Post-election Bromance

Election night photos of the two at Mar-a-Lago circulated on X, formerly known as Twitter. In a picture posted by Musk's America PAC, they sit huddled over a table as results stream in. A few days after Trump secured victory, Elon reveled in his unofficial role as bestie-in-chief, and posted on X that he's "happy to be first buddy."

Musk and his four-year-old son, X, later joined a family photo on Election Night.

Kai Trump made Musk an honorary family member in a post on X a few days later, showing them golfing at Mar-a-Lago and saying that he'd achieved "uncle status." That same day, the young Trump posted a picture with her grandfather on the golf course.

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Trump celebrated his incoming administration at the America First Policy Institute Gala, which was held at Mar-a-Lago.

Musk went to the soirée, which was filled with GOP officials who will be a key part of Trump's second term as he returns to Washington in January.

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Trump attended the UFC 309 event at Madison Square Garden in New York City, which marked a return to his home city and the site of a controversial October rally where a comedian made several crude jokes in advance of the election.

The president-elect was accompanied by UFC president Dana White, along with Musk and several other key figures in his orbit: House Speaker Mike Johnson of Louisiana; Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Trump's choice to lead the Department of Health and Human Services in his second term; and former Rep. Tulsi Gabbard of Hawaii, whom Trump tapped to be his next director of national intelligence.

Donald Trump Jr. posted a photo on X of his dad's inner circle sharing a meal on an airplane, with Musk sitting next to the president-elect. The three of them are eating McDonald's alongside Kennedy Jr., as Johnson stands in the background.

Musk and Trump smile over trays of french fries, quarter pounders, and 10-piece chicken nuggets.

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The President-elect and SpaceX CEO were pictured hugging ahead of SpaceX's sixth test flight of its Starship rocket in November.

"I'm heading to the Great State of Texas to watch the launch of the largest object ever to be elevated, not only to Space, but simply by lifting off the ground," Trump wrote in a post on Musk's social media platform, X, before the event. "Good luck to @ElonMusk and the Great Patriots involved in this incredible project!"

Musk wrote in a subsequent post that he was "honored" to have Trump in attendance.

The launch of the rocket was successful, but the company abandoned its attempt to catch its Super Heavy booster after takeoff. SpaceX had previously announced it would not attempt to catch the booster if proper catch criteria were not met after launch.

Musk was spotted alongside Trump at Mar-a-Lago for the Thanksgiving holiday.

Musk's mother, Maye Musk, joined her son at the club and called the event a "wonderful Thanksgiving celebration."

As Trump prepares to head back to the White House, Musk has remained squarely in president-elect's orbit.

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Trump in early December traveled to Paris to witness the re-opening of the Notre Dame Cathedral. Parts of historic cathedral were heavily damaged by a 2019 fire, which prompted its restoration.

Musk also attended the event, and while he didn't sit directly beside the president-elect, he wasn't too far away.

"Magnificat Cathédrale," Musk wrote on X as he posted a video from inside the cathedral.

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Speaker Johnson and Senate Majority Leader John Thune of South Dakota were photographed with Trump at the annual Army-Navy football game in Maryland on December 14. The two GOP lawmakers will play a critical role in working to advance Trump's agenda through Congress over the next two years.

Embattled Defense secretary nominee Pete Hegseth — whose Senate confirmation remains in question — was also at the game.

And once again, Musk was a part of the entourage as Trump was joined by Vice President-elect JD Vance.

Musk attended a New Year's Eve gala at Mar-a-Lago alongside the president-elect.

Other high-profile attendees included Vance, Lara Trump, Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas, and the boxing promoter Don King.

Before entering the gala, Trump said he believed 2025 would be a "great year," adding that "we're going to do fantastically well as a country."