Musk returns to Trump's court aboard Air Force One

WashingtonLast May, it was unthinkable that the photograph of Elon Musk on board Air Force One eating a McDonald's hamburger next to Donald Trump would be repeated. The divorce between the two tycoons was so sensational that it ended with the South African billionaire accusing the US president of appearing on the Epstein list – a fact that was later revealed to be true –. The accusation seemed to be a point of no return in their relationship. But, a year later, the image has been repeated. On Wednesday, Musk disembarked from the presidential plane in Beijing and was received by the Chinese government's welcoming delegation upon the arrival of the US leader. Once again during this second term of Trump, a private citizen enjoyed the treatment befitting heads of state and diplomats. After the thaw, the South African is once again fully within the tycoon's inner circle.

The trip to China, in itself, was singular. No US president had set foot in the country for almost a decade since Trump visited during his first term in 2017. But the delegation of executives surrounding the Republican on this occasion is a renewed reminder of the marriage officiated between the new administration and private capital. Executives from big tech companies, like Musk, enjoyed a seat in the Capitol rotunda during Trump's inauguration, and now, from Blackstone to Goldman Sachs, they enjoy a place in the delegation, even if it's unofficially.

Officially, the list provided by the White House to the media included seventeen executives from various companies. Although it would be more accurate to say eighteen: Eric Trump, the Republican's son and president of the Trump Organization, has also traveled to China. Like Musk, he was on board Air Force One. The owner of Tesla and X is one of the few who have enjoyed the honor of flying alongside the tycoon. He is also one of the few who decided to bet on him before he won the 2024 elections and donated approximately 290 million dollars to the Republican campaign through his platform, America PAC.

Tax exemptions

Part of this investment Musk has already seen returned in the form of tax exemptions. Tech giants Amazon, Alphabet, Meta, and Tesla reported combined profits of $315 billion in the United States for 2025 and, collectively, only paid 4.9% of the total in taxes. The case of Musk's company, Tesla, stands out, as it paid absolutely nothing, according to an analysis by the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy (ITEP).

The tax benefits that Musk received were covered by the tax law that Trump approved last summer – the Big Beautiful Bill – and which, to compensate for the tax cut for the wealthy, will leave 11 million Americans without medical coverage by 2031. But in addition to tax benefits, Musk is now seeking to expand horizons in China. Tesla has seen its electric cars lose ground in the country in recent years and is now seeking to reverse the situation. Furthermore, the company is also seeking authorization from Chinese regulators to expand the adoption of its Full Self-Driving assistance system in the world's largest automotive market.

Before boarding Air Force One, Musk had already returned to orbit around the Trump court, but with a low profile. For example, when Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman visited the White House last November, the South African was one of the guests at the official dinner. Since then, the tech billionaire has maintained continuous contact with Vice President J.D. Vance.