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Trump Honors Musk with National Medal of Science at Golden Age Summit
Confirmed
In Short: US President Donald Trump presented the National Medal of Science to Elon Musk during the 'A New Golden Age' summit in Washington, DC.
US President Donald Trump presented the National Medal of Science to Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk on Thursday, hailing him as a “modern-day Thomas Edison” and calling him a “titan,” “genius,” and a “national treasure.”
The awards were part of the administration’s “A New Golden Age” summit, which focused on advances in science and technology, including artificial intelligence. The ceremony took place at the US Institute of Peace in Washington, DC.
Trump honored Musk for his work across space technology, satellite communications, and other areas. He also awarded the National Medal of Technology and Innovation to Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella and Dell Technologies CEO Michael Dell.
The recognition of Musk and the other technology executives marked a departure from the traditional profile of National Medal of Science recipients. Five of the six technology leaders honored by Trump were immigrants to the US.
"This is a big day in the world of science and the world of technology," Trump said, adding that the honourees would “go down in the annals of history.” He also congratulated SpaceX on the safe return of Crew-12 from the International Space Station.
The Trump administration launched the Genesis Mission Fellowship, a $100 million initiative for students to pursue accelerated four-year PhDs with dual competency in AI alongside another science or engineering discipline. The Department of Energy also launched the Battelle-Genesis Mission High School Fellowship to provide advanced high school students with research opportunities at DOE National Laboratories.
"Under President Trump’s leadership, we are ushering in a New Golden Age of Science powered by super intelligence, a return to merit, and bold national missions that will inspire Americans for generations to come," Trump said.
"We now support only the gold standard of science," Trump added, announcing the end of DEI for scientific grants from the federal government.
What this adds
The summit marked a significant moment for American science and technology, with Trump praising the honourees for their contributions.
More than 500 individuals have received the honor since its inception.
Background
The Trump-Xi summit extended a trade truce until January 2027, focusing on stability amid Middle East tensions.
What's confirmed
- The National Medal of Technology and Innovation was awarded to Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella and Dell Technologies CEO Michael Dell.
What's still developing
- This comes 30 years after it was “inexplicably abandoned in 1996,” the White House revealed.
- @POTUS : " @MichaelDell took $1,000 and an idea in his University of Texas dorm room and turned it into a revolution in personal computing." pic.twitter.com/pO5gJHqQYP.
- More than 500 individuals have received the honor.
- "Sergey Brin is a visionary computer scientist who permanently changed the way the world finds information and put all human knowledge at our fingertips."
- "Our next recipient is a man whose determination laid the foundations for the explosion of Super Intelligence and put America at the front of the race — an amazing man. I've gotten to know him so well. @JensenHuang."
- " @LisaSu is an industry trailblazer who revolutionized computer performance, among many other contributions."
- Elon Musk arrives at President Donald Trump's New Golden Age Summit at the Institute of Peace in Washington, D.C., where he is expected to be awarded the National Medal of Science. (Credit: Nicholas Ballasy for Fox News Digital) EXCLUSIVE: As Elon Musk prepares to receive a prestigious honor from President Donald Trump Thursday afternoon, several sources familiar with the pair's relationship say the trillionaire is back in the administration's fold after last year's nasty blowup between the pair.
- During that time, he had a chummy relationship with Trump, who presented him with a ceremonial golden key to the White House during an Oval Office celebration.
- "For more than three decades, @satyanadella has been a key figure in the transformation of Microsoft — revolutionizing the company and empowering businesses, students, and consumers from all over the world with some of the most capable software ever built."
- "We honor an industrial titan, a brilliant engineer, and one of the greatest technology founders ever to live. His name is @elonmusk."