Musk vows to stay Trump’s ‘friend’ in odd black-eyed farewell

Tech billionaire Elon Musk raised eyebrows Thursday night with a cryptic post on social media, showing himself sporting a prominent black eye and embracing former U.S. President Donald Trump. The caption: “We may walk different paths, but friendship remains.”

The photo, shared on X (formerly Twitter), instantly went viral, with speculation erupting over Musk’s bruised face and the timing of the message. The Tesla and SpaceX CEO did not explain how he sustained the injury, and his spokesperson declined to comment.

Trump, standing beside Musk in the photo, appeared unbothered and smiling. The image reportedly dates back to a private event held earlier this week in Florida, where both men were said to have met for a brief, informal conversation.

Sources familiar with the event told Bloomberg and Axios that the two discussed future cooperation in the event of Trump’s reelection, particularly in areas of infrastructure, artificial intelligence, and media. However, no formal announcements were made.

Musk’s recent behavior has been increasingly unpredictable, from promoting fringe content on X to appearing in bizarre live streams. The black eye sparked rumors ranging from minor accident to involvement in a physical altercation, though none of the claims have been substantiated.

Political analysts say Musk’s message may reflect a shift in positioning as he distances himself from certain policy debates while maintaining key alliances. “It’s less about ideology and more about access and influence,” said political strategist Dana Grossman. “Musk wants to remain relevant, regardless of who wins in November.”

Despite their sometimes conflicting views, Musk and Trump have maintained a complicated relationship. Trump has previously praised Musk as a “visionary,” while Musk has at times criticized Trump’s rhetoric. Still, their mutual influence in the tech and political spheres continues to overlap.

The black eye remains a mystery, but the message was clear: Musk intends to keep his connection with Trump intact — even if it means raising a few eyebrows along the way.