Lip reader reveals Trump’s terse five-word order to Elon Musk during meeting with Saudi crown prince

Lip reader reveals Trump’s terse five-word order to Elon Musk during meeting with Saudi crown prince
A forensic lip reader claimed that President Donald Trump delivered a firm five-word message to Elon Musk that underscored a visible shift in power dynamics during their meeting with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (@ULTRA_MAJESTY/X)

RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA: A high-profile meeting between President Donald Trump, Elon Musk, and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) is making headlines for what was said behind the scenes.

A forensic lip reader claimed that the POTUS delivered a firm five-word message to Musk that underscored a visible shift in power dynamics during the royal court gathering, Irish Star reported.



 

Lip reader uncovers Donald Trump’s short but firm command to Elon Musk

The encounter took place during Donald Trump’s visit to Riyadh, his first international stop before heading to Rome. Musk, the Tesla CEO and Trump adviser, appeared unusually subdued during the event, according to lip-reading analyst Nicola Hickling to Covers.com.

Trump began with what seemed like a “clear sign of respect for the host” but quickly shifted the tone by yanking Musk’s hand “aggressively toward himself,” noticeably avoiding any direct eye contact in the process.

RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA - MAY 13: U.S. President Donald J. Trump and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman attend a signing ceremony at the Saudi Royal Court on May 13, 2025, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Trump begins a multi-nation tour of the Gulf region focused on expanding economic ties and reinforcing security cooperation with key U.S. allies. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)
President Donald J Trump and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman attend a signing ceremony at the Saudi Royal Court on May 13, 2025, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia (Win McNamee/Getty Images)

The meeting revealed a quiet but noticeable shift in power dynamics, along with some lingering tension between two figures who’ve shared a significant history.

As Musk chatted with Crown Prince Mohammed, Trump observed closely before jumping in with a pointed question, “What do you think of the royal court?” according to Hickling.

Trump displayed subtle but deliberate gestures aimed at asserting control, including pulling Musk’s hand forcefully and issuing the commanding phrase, “I shall lead this now.”

White House Senior Advisor to the President and Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk departs the U.S. Capitol Building on March 5, 2025 in Washington, DC. Musk was meeting with Republican senators at a closed door lunch. (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)
Elon Musk departs the Capitol Building on March 5, 2025 in Washington, DC (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)

Following a brief photo op, Trump appeared to say, “Allow me to take it from here,” according to Hickling, while Musk gave a subtle nod, which could be read as agreement or quiet surrender.

Saudi Arabia pledges $600B investment in US, with Donald Trump hinting at $1 trillion



 

The meeting held at the Saudi Royal Court and followed by a lavish luncheon hosted a star-studded guest list, featuring top corporate leaders like Ruth Porat from Google, Stephen Schwarzman of Blackstone, Jane Fraser of Citicorp, Alex Karp from Palantir, and Jensen Huang of NVIDIA.

Saudi Arabia has already pledged over $600 billion in investment toward the US, with Trump teasing the possibility of raising that figure to $1 trillion. 

RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA - MAY 13: U.S. President Donald Trump meets with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman as he arrives at King Khalid International Airport on May 13, 2025, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Trump begins a multi-nation tour of the Gulf region focused on expanding economic ties and reinforcing security cooperation with key U.S. allies. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)
President Donald Trump meets with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman as he arrives at King Khalid International Airport on May 13, 2025, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia (Win McNamee/Getty Images)

Tesla, which recently expanded into Saudi Arabia, faces new engineering challenges in the region's extreme climate. Meanwhile, the Trump-Musk interaction continues to stir speculation about the evolving relationship between two of the most powerful and unpredictable figures on the global stage.

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