Donald Trump Honours Elon Musk As 'Modern-Day Thomas Edison' With National Medal of Science

US President Donald Trump has honoured billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk with the National Medal of Science, praising him as a "national treasure" and a "modern-day Thomas Edison" during the "Science: A New Golden Age Summit". The high-profile tribute highlighted Musk's engineering and technological contributions, ranging from aerospace advancements to emergency communications and artificial intelligence.

Transforming Space Exploration and National Security

President Trump delivered a personal tribute highlighting how SpaceX, founded by Musk in 2002, transformed the economics of space travel and reduced American reliance on foreign entities for human spaceflight. Trump congratulated SpaceX on the safe return of Crew-12 from the International Space Station just prior to the ceremony, praising ambitious projects like the reusable Starship rocket and Starlink satellite constellation. Starlink Row: Rahul Gandhi Says ‘Welcome To India’ After Elon Musk’s Ambani Remark, Gets Reply.

"Few Americans in history have done more to advance America's national interest than Elon, in one field after another, his genius and determination have made science fiction into reality," Trump said.

Crisis Response and Technological Innovation

The US President recalled how Starlink played a critical role during natural disasters, pointing to North Carolina where satellite communications equipment was deployed rapidly to assist communities isolated by hurricane floodwaters. Trump stated that the fast intervention aided emergency responders during a critical time. The tribute also touched upon multiple frontier industries led by Musk:

• Automotive & Neural Tech: Acknowledged contributions to the electric vehicle industry via Tesla and brain-computer interface advancements through Neuralink, aimed at restoring critical functions to individuals with severe disabilities.
• Artificial Intelligence: Highlighted Musk's work in AI development as part of broader national efforts to secure technological leadership. ‘Is Ambani the Real Boss of India?’ Elon Musk Drags Mukesh Ambani Into Starlink India Row.

Historical Connections and the Award Presentation

Reflecting on historical milestones, Trump shared an anecdotal link to science history, noting that his uncle - Dr John Trump, an MIT professor - had previously assessed the scientific work of inventor Nikola Tesla and concluded he was a genuine genius. Concluding the tribute, President Trump formally presented the National Medal of Science, recognising Musk's profound engineering achievements. "Elon is our modern-day Thomas Edison. And Elon, I wanna congratulate you, you're my friend and all of that, but you are a very, very special guy," Trump said.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Oct 09, 2026 07:19 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).