Tech billionaire Elon Musk met with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Washington, D.C., on Thursday. Accompanied by his girlfriend, Shivon Zilis, and their three children, Musk engaged in discussions with PM Modi at Blair House, a historic government guest residence. The meeting, which took place just hours before Modi’s scheduled visit to the White House for discussions with U.S. President Donald Trump, covered various topics, including technological innovation, space exploration, and governance.
During the meeting, PM Modi gifted Musk’s children three books—The Crescent Moon by Rabindranath Tagore, The Great RK Narayan Collection, and Panchatantra by Pandit Vishnu Sharma. Photos shared on social media showed Musk’s children engrossed in the books. The meeting highlights growing collaboration between India and Musk-led enterprises, especially in technology and space research.
Elon Musk’s and PM Modi’s meeting details
Gifts and warm reception
Prime Minister Modi shared images of his interaction with Musk’s family on social media platform X (formerly Twitter). The pictures showed Musk’s children reading the books gifted to them. Expressing his delight, PM Modi wrote:
“It was also a delight to meet Mr. Elon Musk’s family and to talk about a wide range of subjects!”
Musk, known for his leadership roles at companies such as Tesla, SpaceX, and Neuralink, was seen engaging in discussions on key topics related to innovation and governance.
PM Modi’s discussion on governance and reform
PM Modi and Musk discussed various issues, with a significant focus on technology, governance, and economic reforms. The Prime Minister highlighted India’s commitment to “Minimum Government, Maximum Governance,” emphasizing the Indian government’s efforts to enhance efficiency through policy reforms.
“Had a very good meeting with @elonmusk in Washington, D.C. We discussed various issues, including those he is passionate about such as space, mobility, technology, and innovation. I talked about India’s efforts towards reform and furthering ‘Minimum Government, Maximum Governance,'” PM Modi wrote on X.
Elon Musk and PM Modi’s meeting key discussion points: Innovation, Space, and AI
Strengthening India-U.S. technological collaboration
According to an official statement from the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), the meeting focused on strengthening partnerships between Indian and U.S. entities in the fields of:
- Innovation and entrepreneurship – Opportunities for fostering startups and emerging businesses.
- Space exploration – Expanding India’s space missions in collaboration with SpaceX and other U.S. agencies.
- Artificial Intelligence (AI) and emerging technologies – Joint research and development initiatives.
- Sustainable development – Investments in clean energy and green technologies.
The discussions also explored avenues to deepen cooperation in science, technology, and business, aligning with India’s growing digital economy.
Elon Musk’s role in US government initiatives
Musk currently leads the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), a special task force initiated under President Donald Trump’s administration to reduce government spending and increase operational efficiency. His leadership in this initiative has been a subject of debate, as it involves restructuring federal programs, terminating contracts, and reducing bureaucratic redundancies.
As per reports, Musk’s DOGE efforts have led to the elimination of contracts worth over $881 million in the U.S. Department of Education alone. During the meeting, Modi and Musk discussed governance models, efficiency improvements, and administrative reform strategies.