Elon Musk showed up at the White House on Friday sporting a noticeable black eye—something that had everyone on social media buzzing. Was it an accident? Was it a political dust-up? As it turns out, the truth is far more lighthearted, and even President Trump couldn’t help but laugh when the story came out.

During a press conference alongside Trump, Musk was asked point blank what happened to his right eye. Without missing a beat, Musk chuckled and shot back, “I haven’t been anywhere near France,” mocking the viral incident where French President Emmanuel Macron was slapped by his wife. Then came the real story.

“I was just horsing around with Lil X, and I said, ‘Go ahead, punch me in the face,’ and he did,” Musk explained. “Turns out even a five-year-old punching you in the face actually does—” he continued, before noting that while he didn’t feel much at the time, it bruised up later.

Trump’s reaction was classic. He admitted he hadn’t even noticed the black eye and moved right on to praising Musk’s tenure in Washington, brushing off the drama swirling in the media about a supposed rift between the two.

For weeks, outlets like The New York Times pushed the idea that Musk and Trump were at odds, pointing to Musk’s critiques of the “Big Beautiful Bill” and his looming exit from his advisory role as a “special government employee.” The Times framed Musk’s scheduled departure as some dramatic fallout, but Friday’s press event blew that narrative to pieces.

Trump was full of praise for Musk’s contributions during his 130-day mission to root out government waste, fraud, and corruption. “Elon’s service to America has been without comparison in modern history,” Trump said. “The most innovative car company, the most successful space company, the largest free speech platform on the internet—he did it all.”

The president didn’t stop there. He saluted Musk’s patriotism, calling him someone who “willingly accepted the outrageous abuse and slander and lies and attacks because he does love our country.” Trump acknowledged Musk’s South African roots but said without a doubt, “He’s all about the U.S.A. and America owes him a great debt of gratitude.”

For those still hoping for some juicy drama, there was none to be found. The black eye? Just a father letting his son have a little fun. The political rumors? Debunked by Trump himself. The bromance between Musk and the president appears to be not only intact—but stronger than ever.

As for Musk’s critics in the media, his impromptu storytelling and Trump’s light-hearted reaction offered a masterclass in how to shrug off the noise. Once again, the pair managed to turn what could have been a viral distraction into a viral moment—one that highlighted their mutual respect and their commitment to pushing back against bureaucracy and dysfunction in Washington.

While Musk may be stepping back from his formal government role, don’t expect him to vanish from the political landscape. With Trump in office and his eyes on more reforms, Elon Musk will likely remain one of the most influential non-politicians in the conservative movement. Black eye or not, he’s not done fighting.