Meanwhile:
Down at the Country-Club, the frenemies make-up during dinner. Oil money changes everything.
The bromance between billionaire Elon Musk and President Donald Trump appears to be back in full swing.
The pair were spotted shaking hands from fawning guests and having a swanky dinner at Mar-a-Lago on Saturday evening following Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro’s capture.
Musk and Trump had been on the rocks for months following the Tesla CEO’s exit from the ill-fated Department of Government Efficiency. While reports called the departure amicable, Musk publicly trashed Trump on his way out, taking swipes at the president’s “Big Beautiful Bill.”
Tensions rose after the SpaceX founder threatened to create his own political party and suggested that the Epstein Files had not been released because Trump was in them. The president later said that Musk was “80 percent super-genius” and “20 percent problems.”
Musk has been slowly working his way back into the president’s good graces. In November, Musk was dined at a White House dinner Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and later in the month with Vice President JD Vance and White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, among others.
The drama all appears to be water under the bridge now, as the pair were filmed walking through Mar-a-Lago and shaking hands side-by-side. The two, accompanied by the First Lady, were met by applause as they made their way to dinner. In one Instagram video, Musk can be seen repeatedly nodding his head towards a few people clapping.
Musk returned to the GOP and Trump with his tail between his legs last month, recommitting to donating millions to Republican candidates ahead of this year’s midterms. Now, the reconciled allies are close enough to have a celebratory meal in light of the attack on Venezuela on Saturday.
Big oil profits for billionaires brings peace.
Before their dinner, Musk praised the president for the operation in Venezuela on his social media site X. He changed his profile photo to an American flag and reshared the White House’s post that said “GOD BLESS THE UNITED STATES MILITARY.” He also congratulated Trump on capturing Maduro.
“It is heartwarming to see so many Venezuelans celebrating their country freed from a brutal tyrant,” Musk posted on X.
On Saturday morning, the U.S. military launched a large-scale attack on Caracas, the Venezuelan capital. Trump announced the capture of Maduro and his wife shortly after, saying the invasion played out like a television show. He later shared a photo of Maduro handcuffed and blindfolded on a ship to New York, where he is currently being detained.
The president said in a press conference that the U.S. would “run” Venezuela for now and seize control of its oil. Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodríguez condemned the U.S. for its “illegal and illegitimate kidnapping” of Maduro and that the Venezuelan people would “never again be slaves.”
Marco Rubio struggled to give a straight answer whether he’ll be taking the reins of Venezuela after the U.S “captured” Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores.
“Yeah, I mean, I keep—people fixating on that. Here’s the bottom line on it... We expect to see changes in Venezuela,” the secretary of state told host Kristen Welker when asked Sunday on NBC’s Meet the Press whether he was “running” the country.
Rubio, 54, continued: “Changes of all kinds, long-term, short-term, we’d love to see all kinds of changes. But the most immediate changes are the one that are in the national interest to the United States.”
“It either touches on something that’s a threat to our national security, or it touches on something that’s either beneficial or harmful—”
Welker then interrupted to ask for a third time whether Rubio would be at the helm. “And are you involved in that transition, Secretary?” she questioned.
“Obviously I’m very involved in this,” Rubio said. As Welker nodded, he defensively added: “Well of course, I think everyone knows I’m pretty involved on politics in this hemisphere. Obviously, as Secretary of State and National Security Advisor, I’m very involved in all these elements.”
Rubio then suggested that he was just one of many overlooking Venezuela. “The Department of War plays a very important role here along with the Department of Justice, for example, because they’re the ones that have to go to court,” he said.
The president said at a press conference Saturday that the U.S. would “run” Venezuela for now and seize control of its oil. Meanwhile, Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodríguez condemned the U.S. for its “illegal and illegitimate kidnapping” of Maduro and vowed that the Venezuelan people would “never again be slaves.
The ‘Peace’ Presidency:
For months, Trump, 79, has openly flirted with the idea of taking over Greenland—a member of both the European Union and NATO. He has even declined to rule out using military force to seize the mineral-rich island.
“I never take military force off the table. But I think there’s a good possibility that we could do it without military force,” Trump told Meet the Press in March.
Miller’s comments also come as the president himself has suggested that the surprise abduction of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro may not be his last such operation.
While gloating over the United States’ abrupt takeover of Venezuela from his Mar-a-Lago club on Saturday, Trump hinted on Fox & Friends that the operation could mark the beginning of a broader campaign.
Throughout Saturday, he floated the possibility of military action against Colombia—Venezuela’s western neighbor—and its president, Gustavo Petro. Trump also threatened Mexico, a U.S. ally, claiming the country is run by drug cartels, echoing similar allegations he has made against Maduro and the Venezuelan government.
“Something’s going to have to be done with Mexico,” Trump said.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio added to the threats during a late-morning press conference Saturday, naming Cuba as another potential target and blaming the island nation for many of Venezuela’s problems. Rubio’s parents fled Cuba for the United States in 1956.
“If I lived in Havana and I was in the government, I’d be concerned at least a little bit,” Rubio said.
“If I lived in Havana and I was in the government, I’d be concerned at least a little bit,” said Marco Rubio, whose parents are Cuban immigrants, at a press conference alongside Donald Trump and Pete Hegseth on Saturday.Joe Raedle/Getty Images
For its part, Denmark has remained firmly opposed to any U.S. effort to seize control of Greenland, the world’s largest island, located northeast of Canada.
In her annual New Year’s speech, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen doubled down on her opposition to Trump’s potential land grab.
“In the past year, we have had to pay attention to a lot. Threats. Pressure. Derogatory language. From our closest ally for a lifetime. About wanting to take over another country, another people. As if it was something you could buy and own,” Frederiksen said.
“We are not the ones seeking conflict. But let no one be in any doubt: No matter what happens, we will stand firm on what is right and wrong.”
