Washington: Elon Musk attended a White House state dinner for Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, marking his first high-profile return to the East Room after months of public tension with US President Donald Trump. The event, hosted by Trump, featured a mix of political leaders and corporate chiefs.

According to Anadolu Agency, the attendees included Vice President JD Vance, second lady Usha Vance, Apple CEO Tim Cook, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller, first lady Melania Trump, and House Speaker Mike Johnson. The guest list extended beyond politics and business, with Portuguese football star Cristiano Ronaldo also present, drawing a mention from Trump.

Musk's appearance was notable due to his previous clash with the administration over Trump's reconciliation proposal, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. This dispute had ended his role at the Department of Government Efficiency and led to public criticisms between Musk and Trump on social media. Despite their appearance together at the September funeral of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, Musk had not attended a major White House event until this dinner.

The event capped a day of ceremonial activities, including a military band, horseback procession, and fighter-jet flyover to welcome the crown prince. The prince's visit comes amid scrutiny from US lawmakers and human rights groups over the 2018 killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, an operation US intelligence agencies concluded was ordered by the crown prince, a finding disputed by the Saudi government.

The administration has emphasized the strategic value of the US-Saudi partnership, focusing on regional security and energy policy cooperation. Officials stated that the dinner aimed to underscore these ties and demonstrate support from key political and business figures.