Washington D.C.: A moment during a televised White House dinner with prominent tech leaders went viral on social media after First Lady Melania Trump guided President Donald Trump when he appeared to mishear a reporter’s question about a potential conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
The incident occurred during an AI-focused dinner in the newly renovated White House Rose Garden, which was attended by about two dozen tech leaders, including Microsoft founder Bill Gates, OpenAI founder Sam Altman, Google CEO Sergey Brin, and Apple CEO Tim Cook.
A reporter asked the President, “After your phone call with Ukrainian President Zelensky today, do you plan to speak with Russia’s President Putin in the near future?” In response, Trump reportedly mumbled, “What?” and turned to the First Lady. Melania Trump then repeated the question to him clearly, allowing him to respond.
Viral Video Draws Mixed Reactions on Social Media
The video of the exchange quickly gained traction online, prompting a wide range of reactions from viewers. Some social media users praised the moment as a sign of their close relationship and teamwork. One user on X wrote, “Nice to see that level of coordination—small gestures can make a big difference in public appearances.” Another added, “They just look great together any time anyway. I’m so proud of them.”
However, others were more critical, with one user advising Trump to consider a hearing device, noting that such incidents have become more frequent. Another user commented sarcastically, “It’s beautiful that his wife repeated a sentence? The bar is really low.”
The dinner comes amid a complex relationship between the tech industry and the Trump administration. The article notes that since Trump’s return to office, many tech leaders have scaled back policies on diversity, equity, and inclusion, and have shown public support for his administration. Earlier this year, Tim Cook presented a gilded glass trophy to Trump to celebrate Apple’s $100 billion commitment to US manufacturing.