At a recent appearance on NewsNation, U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick opened up about former President Donald Trump’s strained relationship with billionaire Elon Musk — and whether there’s any hope of reconciliation.

Lutnick, a longtime ally of Trump, was asked if the two high-profile figures might patch things up following a rare public sighting together at far-right activist Charlie Kirk’s funeral in Arizona. “He’s a very kind person, so he’s going to forgive Elon,” Lutnick said of Trump. “Will he forget? No, he doesn’t forget.”

Their falling out, which stemmed from disagreements over Trump’s financial policies — including his so-called “Big Beautiful Bill” — ended what had once been a close friendship. Musk had enjoyed the role of Trump’s “First Buddy,” but the relationship soured after Musk publicly criticized some of Trump’s plans. Still, their appearance together at Kirk’s memorial, where they were seen sitting and conversing, sparked speculation that tensions may be easing.

Lutnick offered more insight into Trump’s attitude toward friendship: “I think Donald Trump is a really kind person. The media just don’t see him that way. I’ve known him for over 30 years — he’s warm and generous. But do I think it’s going back to being lovey-dovey? No. Elon had earned the President’s admiration, and then in his departure, he expressed a part of himself that was very negative. I don’t think the President will forget that negativity.”

The conversation also touched on immigration, particularly the H-1B visa program, which is widely used by tech companies to hire foreign talent — often from India. Musk has been a known supporter of the program, given the high number of H-1B holders working at companies like Tesla and SpaceX. But Lutnick backed the Trump administration’s recent move to tighten rules and raise fees for H-1B applicants.

“I think we should only give highly skilled jobs to the most highly skilled people,” Lutnick said. “Cheap tech consultants and trainees shouldn’t be the goal. I strongly support the President’s stance on that.”

Musk has remained publicly silent on the visa changes — but the dynamic between him and Trump remains closely watched.