A high-profile meeting between President Donald Trump, Tesla CEO Elon Musk, and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) is drawing global attention not just for its guest list, but for what was reportedly said behind closed doors.
According to a forensic lip reader cited by the Irish Star, Trump delivered a firm five-word message to Musk during the gathering at the Saudi Royal Court: “I shall lead this now.” The phrase, captured during a key moment in the meeting, is being interpreted as a subtle but sharp assertion of dominance by the former president over the tech billionaire.
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The meeting in Riyadh, part of Trump’s first international trip before continuing to Rome, was notable not only for its opulence but also for its symbolism. Musk, typically outspoken and confident, appeared unusually subdued, according to lip-reading analyst Nicola Hickling, who spoke to Covers.com.
Hickling noted that Trump began the interaction with “a clear sign of respect for the host” but then forcefully yanked Musk’s hand toward himself while avoiding direct eye contact—an act she described as “aggressive.” These gestures, she said, revealed “a quiet but noticeable shift in power dynamics,” as well as potential tension between two men with a long and complex history.
During the event, Musk was seen in conversation with MBS, while Trump watched intently. At one point, the former president interjected with a direct question: “What do you think of the royal court?”—a move analysts say was calculated to steer the focus back toward himself.
As the group posed for a photo op, Trump reportedly added another authoritative remark: “Allow me to take it from here,” which Musk acknowledged with a subtle nod—interpreted by some as either agreement or quiet surrender.
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The event featured an elite roster of corporate leaders, including Ruth Porat of Google, Blackstone CEO Stephen Schwarzman, Citigroup’s Jane Fraser, Palantir’s Alex Karp, and NVIDIA’s Jensen Huang. It was followed by a lavish luncheon hosted by the Crown Prince.
Saudi Arabia has already committed over $600 billion in investment toward the U.S., with Trump hinting at plans to increase that figure to as much as $1 trillion. Tesla, which recently expanded operations into Saudi Arabia, faces unique engineering and environmental challenges in the region’s extreme desert climate.
The Trump-Musk dynamic continues to fuel speculation, with their public interactions now serving as a window into the evolving relationships among some of the world’s most powerful and unpredictable figures.
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