Elon Musk's animated reaction to Trump's Mars pledge at inauguration divides the Internet

WASHINGTON, DC: Elon Musk’s reaction to Donald Trump’s Mars pledge during the presidential inauguration on January 20, 2025, quickly went viral, leaving many viewers confused and amused.

As Trump announced his commitment to sending astronauts to Mars, Musk’s response was caught on camera.

Elon Musk’s animated reaction to Donald Trump’s Mars pledge

In recent months, Donald Trump has developed a close relationship with tech billionaire and Tesla CEO Elon Musk, who, at 53, has taken on the role of government efficiency tsar.

Musk, who has a long-standing fascination with space exploration, was seated nearby as Trump made the bold statement about America’s future in space.

"We will pursue our manifest destiny into the stars, launching American astronauts to plant the Stars and Stripes on the planet Mars," Trump addressed attendees.

As soon as Mars was mentioned, the camera panned to Musk, capturing his unusual real-time response. The 53-year-old Tesla CEO could be seen grinning widely, mouthing something to the camera, and then giving a thumbs-up.

Meanwhile, netizens quickly noted that while Musk seemed thrilled by the idea of humans reaching Mars, Trump’s 18-year-old son Barron Trump appeared far less enthusiastic.

Elon Musk’s enthusiastic response sparks mixed reactions online

Elon Musk’s over-the-top reaction has sparked mixed reactions across the internet, with many people comparing his behavior to someone caught up in an ecstatic moment, while others questioned if his excitement was due to something else entirely.

A user wrote, "Elon, you are BEAMING with enthusiasm. It's quite endearing. Wishing you all the success for your projects to benefit humanity. MARS."

Another added, "Elon's expression was classic! Like a kid getting a BB gun for Christmas!"

One commentator remarked, "Elon Musk's reaction when Trump says we will plant an American flag on Mars is pure gold."

However, not everyone was impressed by the billionaire’s display. Some viewers speculated that Musk’s behavior appeared altered, leading to a flurry of comments questioning his state.

A comment read, "What the hell is Elon On here ketamine By the looks he's higher than his rocket"

A person said, "Elon looked drugged in the entire affair"

Someone else chimed in, "You were so high it was embarrassing. Do better, Elon Musk"

Until the time of writing this, Musk has not publicly addressed the viral reaction to his behavior during the inauguration, but his response to Trump's Mars pledge remains one of the most talked-about moments of the event.

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.