Trump to Honour Elon Musk With US National Medal of Science

US President Donald Trump is set to honour billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk with the National Medal of Science at a White House ceremony on Thursday, October 8, 2026. Musk, the chief executive of SpaceX and Tesla, will receive the prestigious award alongside Google co-founder Sergey Brin, Nvidia chief executive Jensen Huang and AMD chief executive Lisa Su. The honours will be presented during the White House’s “Science: A New Golden Age Summit”, which is expected to bring together prominent scientists, technology executives and government officials to discuss scientific research, artificial intelligence, private-sector investment and US technological leadership. The National Medal of Science is the highest US government honour for scientists and engineers. According to the US National Science Foundation, the award recognises individuals for outstanding contributions to knowledge in areas including the physical, biological, mathematical, engineering, social and behavioural sciences. Musk among four science medal recipients Musk will receive the science medal alongside Brin, Huang and Su. Brin is a co-founder of Google, while Huang leads Nvidia and Su is the chief executive of AMD. All four have played prominent roles in the development of technologies underpinning the modern computing and artificial intelligence industries. The White House said the recipients had made contributions to science and technology that were helping strengthen American innovation. A White House spokesperson said the Trump administration was grateful for the contributions of the honourees and their role in maintaining US leadership in innovation. The National Medal of Science is presented by the US president following a selection process involving a committee of distinguished scientists and engineers appointed to evaluate nominees. The president makes the final decision on recipients. Dell, Nadella to receive separate technology award Two other major technology executives will also be honoured at the White House event. Dell Technologies chief executive Michael Dell and Microsoft chief executive Satya Nadella will receive the National Medal of Technology and Innovation. The award is separate from the National Medal of Science and recognises technological achievement. Reuters reported that the National Medal of Technology and Innovation is the highest US honour for technological achievement. The ceremony will therefore recognise six prominent technology figures, with four receiving the science medal and two receiving the technology and innovation award. Honour comes after Trump-Musk fallout Musk’s planned recognition comes after a highly publicised deterioration and subsequent improvement in his relationship with Trump. Musk had been closely associated with Trump’s administration and briefly led the administration’s Department of Government Efficiency, an initiative focused on reducing federal spending and the size of the government workforce. The relationship later deteriorated publicly, with the two men exchanging criticism after Musk left his administration role. Their relationship has since improved, with Musk returning to the White House for meetings with Trump and other technology executives. Musk has also recently taken on a limited advisory role connected to the Pentagon’s Project Meridian, which is examining the future of warfare and the technologies the US military may require. The planned medal therefore comes during a period in which Musk has again become more closely involved with the Trump administration and its technology priorities. Trump to present medals at White House Thursday’s ceremony will mark the first time Trump has personally presented the National Medal of Science or the National Medal of Technology and Innovation during either of his presidential terms, according to current reports. The summit is expected to focus heavily on the future of scientific research and advanced technology, including the administration’s plans for federal research funding and the development of what it has described as “super intelligence.” Musk has remained one of the most prominent figures in the technology sector through his leadership of SpaceX and Tesla, while his companies have increasingly been involved in areas ranging from artificial intelligence and space exploration to satellite communications. The National Medal of Science, meanwhile, has a long history dating back to its establishment by Congress in 1959. The National Science Foundation says 529 scientists and engineers had received the award before the latest group of recipients. Trump's decision to honour Musk places the SpaceX and Tesla chief among a select group of scientists and technology leaders recognised by the US government for contributions to science and innovation.