Elon Musk says he was invited to White House reception but will not attend

Elon Musk, the billionaire entrepreneur and former advisor to the White House, has confirmed that he received an invitation to a tech leaders’ summit at the newly refurbished Rose Garden but will not be attending. In response to an inquiry on social media, Musk stated, "I was invited, but unfortunately could not attend. A representative of mine will be there." Prominent figures on the guest list include Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, Apple CEO Tim Cook, Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates, Google CEO Sundar Pichai, and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, as reported by a White House official. Musk's invitation could indicate a warming of relations between him and the current administration. Previously, Musk had a close relationship with former President Donald Trump, but tensions arose after he left his role at the Department of Government Efficiency this summer. Following a public fallout, Musk had suggested he might back primary challengers to Republicans who supported Trump's funding bill and even hinted at forming a new political party, although there have been no recent developments on that front. The White House did not respond immediately to requests for comments regarding Musk's situation. In recent remarks, both Trump and Vice President JD Vance have hinted at a possible reconciliation with Musk. Trump, during a podcast appearance, described Musk as a "man of common sense" and acknowledged his previous missteps, suggesting that once Musk resolves his issues, he could be a significant asset. Vance characterized Musk's ties to the Trump administration as "complicated" but expressed hope that Musk would align with the Republican Party in time for the upcoming midterm elections. He advised Musk against distancing himself from Trump, emphasizing that the political left would not support him. Musk’s recent behavior on social media indicates a shift towards supporting the current administration. Just last month, he reacted positively to a post from a White House adviser, underscoring a potential change in his stance. Historically, Musk was notably absent from a 2021 summit on electric vehicles during President Biden's administration, a decision he has publicly criticized. Musk has expressed frustration over comments made by Biden that favored General Motors over Tesla in the electric vehicle market. In a recent post, he reiterated his feelings about past slights, stating, "I try not to start fights, but I do finish them."