WASHINGTON — President Trump used Thursday’s National Medal of Science ceremony to celebrate several of his closest allies in the technology world, framing their achievements as evidence of a new “golden age” for American innovation. He also received a medal of his own.
At a ceremony held at the Institute for Peace, Trump presented the nation’s highest honor for scientific and engineering achievement to SpaceX founder Elon Musk, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, Dell founder and CEO Michael Dell, Google co-founder Sergey Brin, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella and Advanced Micro Devices CEO Lisa Su.
Trump described the moment as a celebration of “exciting advances in science and technology,” declaring, “This is the golden age of America. This is the golden age.”
He said the honorees were figures whose breakthroughs would remain part of the historical record of science “forever and ever and ever.”
The event also featured a video tribute to Trump’s uncle, Dr. John Trump, an accomplished electrical engineer, physicist and Massachusetts Institute of Technology professor.
During World War II, Dr. Trump helped develop microwave radar for the Allied forces and led the British Branch of MIT’s Radiation Laboratory, work that contributed to radar planning for the D-Day invasion. He later became a pioneer in cancer treatment research.
After inventor Nikola Tesla died in 1943, the FBI turned to Dr. Trump to inspect Tesla’s papers and equipment and determine whether they contained dangerous or classified “ray” technology.
President Ronald Reagan presented Dr. Trump with the National Medal of Science in 1983. The scientist, who was the younger brother of Trump’s father, Fred, died two years later.
Trump said he vividly remembered his uncle receiving the medal and called the recognition “a great honor.”
“He was greatly honored by that. I remember it very well,” Trump said. “It was considered to be just the honor of his lifetime.”
Trump was presented with his uncle’s medal, displayed in a frame alongside the certificate bearing Reagan’s signature.
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The ceremony came as Trump continues to strengthen ties with the technology industry. His sons have embraced cryptocurrency, while his administration confronts the fast-moving challenges posed by artificial intelligence. Last week, Trump brought leading technology executives to the White House to sign what he called a “morally binding” agreement concerning the use of “super intelligence.”
The six recipients are familiar faces at the White House, regularly appearing at technology summits, state dinners and Oval Office meetings.
None of the executives delivered remarks during Thursday’s event. Instead, each accepted a gold medal from Trump, who handed out the honors in jewelry boxes.
Together, the honorees have an estimated net worth of $1.736 trillion, a figure Trump did not directly emphasize as he praised the group.
“I want to congratulate our winners because you’re all very well known, every one of you,” Trump said. “But it’s about time you were recognized, and you are truly recognized.”
He added, “You are great, great people. You’re going to go down in the annals of history as being great.”
Trump reserved his warmest words for Musk, the world’s richest person. The president and the SpaceX chief have rebuilt their relationship after a highly public falling-out last year, much of it unfolding on Musk’s X platform as the two exchanged angry posts.
That feud now appears to have been put aside. Trump referred to Musk as “my friend” and called him a “national treasure.”
“Quite honestly, there is nobody like him,” Trump said. “We’re proud of you. Very proud of you.”
“Elon is our modern-day Thomas Edison,” he added, “and Elon, I want to congratulate you, my friend, and all of that. But you are a very, very special guy. Thank you very much.”
The president had warm words for Dell and his wife Susan, calling the couple, who have contributed $250 million to his Trump Savings accounts, “unbelievable philanthropists.”
