Trump set to award National Medal of Science to Elon Musk at White House summit

Donald Trump is set to award the National Medal of Science to Elon Musk on Thursday at the White House’s “Science: A New Golden Age Summit”, Fox News Digital reported on 7 October. Reuters also reported the expected award, citing Fox News.

Musk, the Tesla and SpaceX chief executive, will receive the nation’s highest honour for scientific achievement alongside Google co-founder Sergey Brin, Nvidia chief executive Jensen Huang and AMD chief executive Lisa Su, according to Fox News Digital.

Dell Technologies chief executive Michael Dell and Microsoft chief executive Satya Nadella are set to receive the National Medal of Technology and Innovation at the ceremony.

White House spokesperson Liz Huston told Fox News Digital: “The Trump Administration is grateful for the contributions of these incredible leaders in science and technology. These recipients are helping ensure America keeps leading the world in innovation.”

The ceremony will mark the first time Trump has presented the two medals in either of his administrations.

Musk’s award marks a further step in his return to Trump’s orbit after a high-profile rupture. The pair fell out last year following Musk’s departure from the administration, when he branded Trump’s tax-and-spending bill a “disgusting abomination”; Trump responded by threatening Musk’s government contracts. They have since renewed ties, with Musk appearing alongside Trump at a recent technology leaders’ lunch and during Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit.