President Donald Trump will host a private dinner Thursday evening at the White House with some of the world’s most prominent tech executives, though Tesla CEO Elon Musk, despite being invited, confirmed he will not be in attendance.
Musk said on X that while he received an invitation, “unfortunately [he] could not attend,” adding that a representative would appear in his place. The White House also confirmed he was invited.
The guest list, according to a White House official, includes Meta’s Mark Zuckerberg, Apple’s Tim Cook, Microsoft founder Bill Gates, and OpenAI chief Sam Altman. The Hill first reported the lineup.
The event comes against the backdrop of recent tension between Musk and President Trump. Earlier this year, Musk criticized the Trump administration over government spending and the Epstein files and floated the creation of a new political group, the “America Party,” though the plan has not advanced.
President Trump, however, suggested this week that Musk would eventually return to the Republican fold, calling him a “good man” and “a man of common sense.” The president also described him as “80% super genius” but noted “20% he’s got some problems.”
The dinner is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. and will be closed to the press. Earlier in the day, First Lady Melania Trump is hosting an AI summit at the White House, with some of the same leaders expected to participate.
President Trump has long courted Silicon Valley leaders, inviting them to past White House meetings and giving them prominent roles during his inauguration. Several CEOs on Thursday’s guest list contributed to his inauguration fund.