Archive · 9 Oct 2026
Trump Honors Musk With National Medal of Science
President Donald Trump gave Elon Musk the National Medal of Science at a White House event.
Trump praised Musk’s work in rockets, satellites, electric cars and other technologies.
He said SpaceX helps send astronauts into space without relying on other countries.
Trump also said SpaceX’s Crew-12 had returned safely from the International Space Station shortly before the ceremony.
He recalled Starlink helping people communicate during a hurricane in North Carolina.
Trump said that help saved hundreds of lives, but the articles note that the number was not independently confirmed in the summit transcript.
He also praised Tesla and Neuralink.
Trump said Neuralink is working on technology intended to help people who cannot see, speak or move.
He called Musk a “modern-day Thomas Edison.”
President Donald Trump presented Elon Musk with the National Medal of Science at a White House science summit on Thursday.
Trump praised Musk’s work in space exploration, communications, manufacturing, electric vehicles, intelligent systems and artificial intelligence.
Trump said SpaceX reduced U.S. reliance on foreign nations for sending astronauts into space and congratulated it on Crew-12’s safe return.
Trump said Starlink equipment reached North Carolina within hours during a hurricane and claimed it helped save hundreds of lives; that figure was not independently substantiated in the summit transcript.
Trump also praised Tesla and Neuralink, describing Neuralink’s work as aimed at restoring sight, speech and movement for people with severe disabilities.
- Who
- President Donald Trump presented the National Medal of Science to Elon Musk.
- What
- Musk received the award for engineering achievements and contributions to technology and innovation.
- When
- Thursday; the articles do not provide a calendar date.
- Where
- The White House, at a science summit described as the New Golden Age Summit.
- Why
- The White House science and technology policy director cited Musk’s engineering achievements in space exploration, intelligent systems, communications and manufacturing.
Claim and evidence
Trump’s account and qualification
Lives reportedly saved by Starlink
Claim and evidence
The articles state that Trump’s claim that Starlink’s hurricane response saved hundreds of lives was not independently substantiated in the summit transcript.
Trump’s account and qualification
Trump said Starlink equipment arrived within hours in North Carolina and that the intervention saved hundreds of lives.
Musk’s award and praise
Claim and evidence
The articles report that Musk received the medal and describe the stated rationale, but do not provide an independent assessment of the scale or effects of his achievements.
Trump’s account and qualification
Trump and White House science and technology policy director Michael Kratsios praised Musk’s engineering and technological contributions as advancing U.S. interests and leadership.
- Award
- National Medal of Science
- Recipient
- Elon Musk
- Presenter
- U.S. President Donald Trump
- Event
- White House science summit, referred to as the New Golden Age Summit
- SpaceX
- Trump credited SpaceX with reducing U.S. reliance on foreign nations for transporting astronauts into space.
- North Carolina
- Trump said Starlink equipment arrived within hours during a hurricane and claimed it helped save hundreds of lives; the figure was not independently substantiated in the summit transcript.
- Other honorees
- The articles say the National Medal of Science was also awarded to Sergey Brin, Jensen Huang and Lisa Su.
- Additional awards
- Michael Dell and Satya Nadella received the National Medal of Technology and Innovation.
