US President Donald Trump awarded Tesla and SpaceX chief executive Elon Musk the National Medal of Science on Thursday, October 8, 2026, praising him as a “national treasure” during a ceremony in Washington, DC.
The award was presented at the administration’s “Science: A New Golden Age” summit, where Trump recognised six technology executives for their contributions to science and innovation.
Trump compared Musk to American inventor Thomas Edison, saying, “Elon is our modern-day Thomas Edison.” He also described Musk as a close friend.
The recognition follows a public fallout between Trump and Musk last year over government spending and legislation. Musk had led the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) before their relationship deteriorated. Relations have since improved, with Musk returning to the president’s circle.
TheDailyNewsHub previously reported on Musk’s planned return to a US government advisory role through a Pentagon study on the future of warfare.
According to the White House, Musk received the medal for engineering achievements it said had advanced space exploration, intelligent systems and communications, while supporting US technological leadership and manufacturing.
Google co-founder Sergey Brin, Nvidia chief executive Jensen Huang and AMD chief executive Lisa Su also received the National Medal of Science. Dell Technologies founder Michael Dell and Microsoft chief executive Satya Nadella received the National Medal of Technology and Innovation.
The awards recognise different contributions. The National Medal of Science honours outstanding scientific achievements, while the National Medal of Technology and Innovation recognises technological development and innovation. The US National Science Foundation describes the former as the country’s highest recognition for scientists and engineers.
The ceremony formed part of the administration’s broader effort to strengthen American leadership in artificial intelligence, advanced computing, space exploration and scientific research. The White House announced billions of dollars in planned commitments involving government agencies, technology companies, research institutions and philanthropic organisations.
Musk’s recognition comes as his companies maintain significant roles in the US space and technology sectors. SpaceX provides commercial space-launch services, while Tesla has become a major electric vehicle manufacturer. His other ventures include the artificial intelligence company xAI.
The award announcement does not, in itself, resolve broader debates about Musk’s political influence or his companies’ relationships with the US government.