'Modern-day Thomas Edison': Trump awards Elon Musk top US science medal
President Donald Trump awarded Elon Musk the National Medal of Science during a White House tech summit on Thursday, praising the Tesla and SpaceX chief as a modern-day Thomas Edison and a national treasure. The event also featured honors for other tech billionaires, including Jensen Huang. Trump framed the ceremony around an innovation Golden Age, unveiling a $6 billion science initiative targeting space, computing, and research. The award ceremony follows a volatile history between the two figures, marking a complete return for the rocket tycoon into the president's political circle.
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- ✓ President Donald Trump awarded Elon Musk the National Medal of Science at the White House on Thursday.
- ✓ Trump called Elon Musk a modern-day Thomas Edison and a national treasure.
- ✓ Elon Musk and Jensen Huang were among six tech moguls who signed the voluntary White House Accord on Super Intelligence last month.
- ✓ Trump unveiled a $6 billion science push spanning space, computing, and research.
What changed
President Donald Trump presented the National Medal of Science to Elon Musk and other tech titans at a White House summit.
Live updates
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Trump Awards Elon Musk National Medal of Science
President Donald Trump awarded Elon Musk the National Medal of Science during a White House tech summit on Thursday, praising the Tesla and SpaceX chief as a modern-day Thomas Edison and a national treasure. The event also featured honors for other tech billionaires, including Jensen Huang. Trump framed the ceremony around an innovation Golden Age, unveiling a $6 billion science initiative targeting space, computing, and research. The award ceremony follows a volatile history between the two figures, marking a complete return for the rocket tycoon into the president's political circle.
Why it matters
The high-profile recognition occurs alongside broader debates over federal funding cuts and a researcher exodus. Musk and Huang were among six technology executives who signed the voluntary White House Accord on Super Intelligence in the preceding month. The summit highlights a shifting political alignment between the administration and prominent industry leaders despite past public friction.
What is confirmed
- President Donald Trump awarded Elon Musk the National Medal of Science at the White House on Thursday.
- Trump called Elon Musk a modern-day Thomas Edison and a national treasure.
- Elon Musk and Jensen Huang were among six tech moguls who signed the voluntary White House Accord on Super Intelligence last month.
- Trump unveiled a $6 billion science push spanning space, computing, and research.
Still unconfirmed
- The Trump administration's focus on tech billionaires during funding cuts shows an indifference toward ordinary Americans.
What to watch next
- Implementation and congressional response to the announced $6 billion science push spanning space, computing, and research.
- Further developments regarding the White House Accord on Super Intelligence signed by tech executives.
confidence 100%Sources used for this update (13)
- The Hill — Trump to award National Medal of Science to Elon Musk
- The Washington Post — Trump to tout innovation ‘Golden Age’ amid funding cuts, researcher exodus
- NBC News — Trump awards Musk and other tech titans National Medals of Science
- The Guardian — Trump hosts awards party for tech billionaires, almost as if he doesn’t care about ordinary Americans
- Euronews.com — 'Modern-day Thomas Edison': Trump awards Musk top US science medal
- www.thenews.com.pk — Trump awards Elon Musk National Medal of Science at White House tech summit: What to know
- www.euronews.com — 'Modern-day Thomas Edison': Trump awards Elon Musk top US science medal | Euronews
- www.teslarati.com — Trump presents Elon Musk with National Medal of Science, calls him “modern-day Thomas Edison”
- www.yahoo.com — Trump gives 'national treasure' Musk top US medal after rift
- www.euronews.com — Video. 'Modern-day Thomas Edison': Trump awards Musk top US science medal | Euronews
- flipboard.com — ‘Modern-day Thomas Edison’ Elon Musk receives National Medal of Science from Trump
- www.yahoo.com — Trump Awards ‘Modern-Day Thomas Edison’ Elon Musk National ...
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