In a surprising turn of events, Donald Trump has extended a reconciliatory gesture to Elon Musk, following a heated dispute that erupted over the summer. The clash, which centered around allegations linked to Jeffrey Epstein, had strained their relationship. However, in a significant gesture of goodwill, Musk attended a prestigious dinner on Monday in honor of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who is visiting Washington, D.C., for an official state visit.

The exclusive event, illuminated by candlelight, was graced by an array of influential figures. Among them were Apple CEO Tim Cook, NVIDIA’s Jensen Huang, and soccer sensation Cristiano Ronaldo, alongside numerous high-ranking Cabinet officials. This gathering marked Musk’s first public appearance in the capital since his departure as head of the Department of Government Efficiency, a move that had initially sparked the rift with Trump.

Musk’s exit from the government post had been followed by a series of accusations aimed at Trump, suggesting involvement in Epstein-related government files. This led to a fierce exchange of words between the two on social media, which only began to cool when Musk conceded he might have overstepped with his remarks. The reunion at the dinner signaled a thawing of tensions, as Trump and Musk shared an unexpectedly warm moment. As Trump entered the black-tie affair with First Lady Melania Trump, he greeted Musk with a friendly pat on the belly, a gesture that was widely perceived as a paternal sign of reconciliation. This heartening interaction was quickly noted by social media commentator Nick Sortor, who quipped, “The bros are back together.”

The world’s richest man and the world’s most powerful man were pictured chatting and smiling during the US-Saudi Investment Forum at the Kennedy Center on Wednesday. Their warm make-up comes as Musk has also quietly abandoned his push to establish a third major political party in the US, according to a new report . Following his high-profile fallout with the president over the summer, the world’s richest man announced he ‘formed’ the ‘America Party’ in July. Musk described the political movement as an option other than the dominant ‘uniparty’ that Democrats and Republicans maintain.

However, that plan has been canned. The Tesla CEO was not fully aware of how costly and difficult it would be to create a third party, four sources familiar with the matter recently revealed to the New York Times . Understanding the nuance of such a Herculean task, Musk’s top political advisors were reportedly worried about the undertaking. They were concerned about how standing up another political party would impact their own careers in a Trump-dominated Washington.

Jamie LaBranche, a candidate for US Senate in Louisiana, was reportedly rebuffed when he approached Musk’s team asking to run on the America Party ticket. ‘Elon Musk, we have work to do,’ the candidate wrote to the billionaire. ‘Please help me help the America Party.’ But LaBranche was soon turned down. According to the Times, weeks after the candidate emailed the mercurial business leader, someone identifying themself as one of Musk’s lawyers later responded to LaBranche, saying there would be no America Party.

Still, Musk has not come out explicitly saying that the effort is finished. The former DOGE leader is also expected to attend a reunion for the cost-cutting department this coming weekend in Austin, Texas, the New York Times reports. Sources told the outlet that though Musk’s plans may change, the event is scheduled to occur at a luxury hotel that the SpaceX owner typically stays at.

The two-day event will include dinners and potentially tours of Musk’s SpaceX and Boring Company facilities, plans for the event reviewed by the Times indicate. Musk’s return to politics is just beginning, sources familiar with his thinking told the Times. The entrepreneur, who spent around $300 million to support Trump’s election, is considering donating to Republicans’ midterm campaigns next year, sources have shared.