US President Donald Trump is set to honour billionaire and SpaceX chief executive Elon Musk with the National Medal of Science at a White House ceremony on Thursday.
Musk is among four technology leaders scheduled to receive the prestigious award at the White House’s “Science: A New Golden Age” summit, which focuses on strengthening American leadership in science, technology and innovation.
Google co-founder Sergey Brin, Nvidia chief executive Jensen Huang and AMD chief executive Lisa Su are also expected to receive the National Medal of Science.
The National Medal of Science is regarded as the highest US government honour for scientists and engineers, recognising individuals who have made significant contributions to scientific knowledge and advancement.
Trump is also expected to present the National Medal of Technology and Innovation to Dell Technologies chief executive Michael Dell and Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella.
The ceremony marks the first time Trump will personally present either of the two medals during his two terms as president.
Musk’s recognition comes months after a highly publicised fallout between him and Trump. Musk had been closely associated with the administration and played a prominent role in its efforts to reduce federal government spending and the size of the workforce before his relationship with the president deteriorated publicly.
Despite the dispute, Musk has remained one of the most influential figures in the US technology and space sectors, with his companies playing major roles in areas including electric vehicles, artificial intelligence, satellite communications and space exploration.
The White House said the recipients were being recognised for their contributions to maintaining America’s leadership in innovation.
The awards come amid the Trump administration’s broader push to promote what it describes as a new era of American scientific and technological advancement, with artificial intelligence and private-sector innovation playing central roles.
The White House’s “Science: A New Golden Age” initiative outlines plans to reshape the US research system and strengthen the country’s position in emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence.
The selection of several prominent technology executives for the awards also highlights the growing role of private-sector companies in driving scientific research and technological development in the United States.
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