US President Donald Trump has awarded the National Medal of Science to Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, referring to him as a “modern-day Thomas Edison”. This recognition occurred during the “A New Golden Age” summit held at the US Institute of Peace in Washington, DC, where Trump commended Musk for his contributions to various fields, including space technology and satellite communications.

In his remarks, Trump praised Musk, describing him as a “titan” and “genius,” emphasising the unique impact he has made in these sectors. The recognition came as part of an event that aimed to spotlight advancements in American science and technology.

During the ceremony, Trump likened Musk’s achievements to those of famed American inventor Thomas Edison, highlighting the significance of Musk’s contributions to SpaceX and the Starlink satellite network. The event also saw the President honour other notable technology leaders.

Multiple Awards Presented at the Ceremony

In addition to Musk, other recipients of the National Medal of Science included Sergey Brin, co-founder of Google, Jensen Huang, CEO of Nvidia, and Lisa Su, CEO of Advanced Micro Devices. Meanwhile, the National Medal of Technology and Innovation was awarded to Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella and Dell Technologies CEO Michael Dell.

Trump referred to all six honourees as “national treasures” and characterised the event as a pivotal moment for science and technology in the United States. He expressed that the contributions of these leaders would be remembered in history.

The summit, themed around “A New Golden Age”, concentrated on the latest advancements in technology, including artificial intelligence. Trump has been vocal about America’s need to retain leadership in AI development and has consistently argued against regulations that could potentially hinder progress in technology.

Change in Profile of Award Recipients

The recognition of Musk and the other technology executives marks a departure from the typical profile of National Medal of Science recipients, which has historically included primarily academic researchers and scientists. Established in 1959, this award has typically honoured individuals from various scientific domains with a focus on research and academia.

Notably, five of the six technology leaders honoured at the ceremony were immigrants. Elon Musk hails from South Africa, Sergey Brin from Russia, and both Jensen Huang and Lisa Su originated from Taiwan. Additionally, Satya Nadella moved to the United States from India, while Michael Dell was born in Texas.

This event aims to highlight the diverse backgrounds of innovators contributing to the nation’s technological landscape while recognising their significant roles in shaping modern technology and science. The awards are expected to encourage further engagement in innovation and scientific development across the United States.

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