Trump Awards Elon Musk National Medal of Science at White House

US President Donald Trump has awarded Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk the National Medal of Science, recognising his work in space exploration, communications and engineering.  

The award was presented on Thursday at a White House summit focused on scientific and technological progress.

Trump praised Musk for developing technologies that have changed several industries. He said Musk’s work had helped turn ideas that once seemed like science fiction into reality.

Five other technology leaders were also recognised at the event, including Google co-founder Sergey Brin, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, AMD CEO Lisa Su, Dell Technologies CEO Michael Dell and Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella.

• Trump awards Elon Musk National Medal of Science at White House summit
• Musk, Nvidia’s Jensen Huang and AMD’s Lisa Su receive US science honours
• White House recognises technology leaders for contributions to AI and space

SpaceX and Tesla Earn Praise for Technology Advances

During the ceremony, Trump highlighted SpaceX’s role in the US space programme. He said the company had helped NASA transport astronauts into space without relying on other countries for the same services. He also congratulated SpaceX on the safe return of Crew-12 from the International Space Station.

Trump praised the company’s Starship rocket programme and Starlink satellite internet service. He recalled how Starlink equipment was delivered to North Carolina during a hurricane to help restore communications. According to Trump, the service helped save lives by providing connectivity when other communication systems were disrupted.

The White House recognised Musk for his engineering work in space exploration, communications and intelligent systems. Officials said his achievements had helped strengthen US technology and manufacturing.

Trump also spoke about Tesla electric vehicles and the company’s role in the electric vehicle industry. He credited Tesla with helping make electric cars commercially successful and advancing self-driving technology. Tesla has expanded its business across electric vehicles, battery storage and vehicle software.

Musk has also invested in other areas of technology through companies such as Neuralink, which develops brain-computer interface technology. His work across these businesses has made him a prominent figure in discussions about the future of transportation, space travel and artificial intelligence (AI).

Other Technology Leaders Receive National Awards

The ceremony also recognised other leaders for their contributions to science and technology. Brin, Huang and Su received the National Medal of Science, while Dell and Nadella were awarded the National Medal of Technology and Innovation.

Brin was recognised for his work in information retrieval and data processing, which helped change how people search for and access information online. Huang was honoured for advancing graphics processing units (GPUs) into powerful computing platforms now widely used in AI and scientific research.

Su received recognition for her work in semiconductor engineering and high-performance computing. Under her leadership, AMD has expanded its processor and data centre businesses as demand for computing power continues to grow.

Dell was recognised for his contributions to the computer industry, while Nadella received the award for his leadership at Microsoft and the company’s growth in cloud computing and enterprise technology.

The awards were presented as part of the White House’s “Science: A New Golden Age Summit”. The event brought together technology executives and other leaders to discuss scientific advances, AI and private-sector investment.

The ceremony also highlighted the growing role of technology companies in research and development. Businesses are investing heavily in AI infrastructure, satellite communications and advanced manufacturing as countries compete to maintain their technological edge.

The National Medal of Science was established by the US Congress in 1959 to recognise important contributions to scientific knowledge. The National Medal of Technology and Innovation honours people whose work has helped advance technology and strengthen the US economy.

Musk’s award comes after his relationship with Trump went through a public disagreement last year following his departure from the Department of Government Efficiency. The two have since renewed their ties, with Musk returning to an advisory role on technology and defence-related initiatives.

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The awards reflect the growing influence of technology leaders in shaping developments across science, computing and space exploration, as the US government seeks to maintain its position in global innovation.