WASHINGTON, D.C. — During a star-studded dinner at the White House on Thursday, September 4, 2025, an awkward and revealing exchange between Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg and President Donald Trump was caught on a hot mic, creating a viral moment online. The event, which included some of the biggest names in technology, was meant to showcase the newly refurbished Rose Garden and discuss the future of the U.S. tech industry.
The exclusive gathering brought together a who’s who of Big Tech executives, including Microsoft founder Bill Gates, Google co-founder Sergey Brin, and Apple CEO Tim Cook. The evening’s agenda focused on future investments and the role of technology leaders in the American economy.
The most notable moment occurred when President Trump went around the room, asking the tech leaders about their companies’ future investment plans in the United States. When it was his turn, Zuckerberg announced that Meta planned to invest “at least $600 billion through 2028.” President Trump reacted with a laugh, responding, “That’s a lot. Thank you, Mark, great to have you.”
However, it was what came next that captured the internet’s attention. A hot mic picked up Zuckerberg whispering to Trump, “I’m sorry, I wasn’t ready to do our,” with the audio then becoming inaudible. He later added, “I wasn’t sure what number you wanted to go with.” Trump, amused by the comment, chuckled and turned to First Lady Melania Trump, telling her, “He said, ‘I wasn’t ready.'”
The clip of the exchange quickly went viral, with social media users on platforms like X (formerly Twitter) poking fun at the CEO. One user wrote, “Zuckerberg admits he and Trump just pull numbers out of their butts,” while another referred to the executives as “liars and sycophants.”
White House spokesperson Davis Ingle stated that the event’s purpose was to celebrate the new Rose Garden patio, calling it “the hottest place to be in Washington, or perhaps the world.” The dinner was intended to “bring together leading figures in industry, politics, and technology.”
Notably absent from the event was Elon Musk, who has had an ongoing public feud with the former President. The dispute began over Trump’s “Big, Beautiful Bill” and has since escalated into a well-known online rivalry.