Elon Musk flies to China with Trump despite ongoing OpenAI trial recall status

Elon Musk flew from Austin to Beijing on May 13, 2026, aboard his Gulfstream G650ER, N628TS, landing in China alongside President Donald Trump for a state visit. The flight departed just before the final day of evidence and closing arguments in Musk’s lawsuit against OpenAI, which is being heard in federal court in Oakland, California.

The same week, Musk is subject to a recall order from U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers, meaning he could be called back to testify at short notice, per NBC News and The Independent. Legal experts noted that a typical witness would not leave the country under such an order, and the judge could be “very aggravated” if permission was not obtained. Musk has not been recalled as of midday Wednesday, but the timing underscores the tension between his legal obligations and his political travel.

The trip to Beijing is Musk’s latest high-profile political journey; his 2024 flight log shows 31 trips to Palm Beach alone. The G650ER, his primary jet, has been busy this week, with flights from California to Colorado and New York before the trans-Pacific leg. Whether the judge will take issue with his absence remains an open question as the trial enters its final phase.