Staff Reports
At the massive memorial for Charlie Kirk on September 21 in Glendale, Arizona, President Trump and Elon Musk were photographed sitting together — a public reunion after a summer of headline-grabbing bitterness that many of us on the right hoped would end. The image and their brief on-camera exchange felt like a heartening sign that, when it matters, patriots can put differences aside to honor one of our own and to think about the bigger fight ahead.
Video and expert lip readers later filled in the rest: Trump appeared to open with a casual “How are you doing?” and urged, “Let’s try and work out how to get back on track,” even telling Musk, “I’ve missed you.” That candid, human moment — not the fireworks and insults the left loves to spotlight — is the length of rope Americans need when our movement should be building, not bickering.
Musk himself signaled the same sentiment, posting a photo of him and Trump with the simple, telling caption “For Charlie,” a message the White House also echoed. Whether you admire Elon for his companies or grumble about his antics, gestures like that matter when we’re trying to present a united front against the cultural and political forces trying to tear this country apart.
Let’s not pretend the split wasn’t serious: Musk pulled back from his role leading the Department of Government Efficiency in June and publicly blasted parts of the administration’s spending package, even flirting with a separate political path. That rupture was painful and public, and conservatives were right to call out both wasted rhetoric and genuine policy disagreements that harm taxpayers.
Still, any conservative who rejoices at petty infighting is hurting the country. Musk poured tens of millions into efforts that helped win important swing states and did real work cutting government waste; his return to a conciliatory posture should be welcomed but watched closely. We should be grateful for cooperation that advances conservative goals while remaining clear-eyed — loyalty to principle, not to personalities, must guide us.
Now is the time for practical unity, not theatrical purity tests. The left smells division and will exploit every fracture; hardworking Americans need leaders who can put ego aside, win policy battles, and protect our freedoms. If this reunion between Trump and Musk leads to more focus on delivering results for the country — secure borders, lower costs, and restored common sense — then every patriotic conservative should get behind it while staying ready to hold power to account.
