A photo circulating on X shows Elon Musk and NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang together aboard Air Force One — Diet Coke in frame — as part of President Trump's business delegation to China from May 13–15, 2026. The image, shared by Sawyer Merritt, quickly racked up over 450,000 views and confirmed what many had speculated: two of the most influential figures in AI and technology were traveling together at the highest level of U.S. diplomacy.
According to multiple reports, Huang joined the delegation at Trump's personal invitation, boarding Air Force One during a refueling stop in Anchorage, Alaska. NVIDIA confirmed his attendance, stating Huang was there to support "America and the administration's goals." Musk, meanwhile, confirmed both his own presence and Huang's on the flight — and noted that Starlink internet was active on the presidential jet during the trip.
The delegation's agenda in Beijing centered on trade and artificial intelligence. On May 14, Musk, Huang, and other prominent U.S. executives — including Apple CEO Tim Cook — met with Chinese Premier Li Qiang for a high-level economic roundtable focused on the future of U.S.-China trade relations. The group also entered the venue for the China-U.S. presidential summit with President Xi Jinping. The convergence of Tesla, NVIDIA, and Apple leadership in a single diplomatic setting underscores just how central technology companies have become to U.S. trade strategy with China.
For Tesla specifically, China remains one of its most critical markets, with the Shanghai Gigafactory supplying vehicles across Asia and Europe. Any shift in U.S.-China trade dynamics — tariffs, technology transfer rules, or market access agreements — lands directly on Tesla's bottom line. Musk's seat at the table, alongside the CEO of the world's dominant AI chip maker, signals that the technology sector is playing an unusually direct role in shaping the outcome of these negotiations.
Sarah focuses on Tesla Energy, SpaceX missions, and the broader Musk AI portfolio. Former data analyst in clean energy. Based in San Francisco.
Sources verified at publish time. Spotted an inaccuracy? Email editorial@basenor.com.
