President Donald Trump hosted a grand dinner at the White House on Tuesday to honour Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
The event drew global attention, not just for the powerful guests like Cristiano Ronaldo and Elon Musk, but for one surprising moment between Trump and Musk.
As Trump walked into the White House with the Crown Prince, cameras caught him gently patting Musk’s belly, a small gesture that quickly went viral online.
This was Prince Mohammed’s first visit to the White House since 2018. His earlier trips stopped after the killing of Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi, an incident carried out by Saudi agents in Istanbul.
US intelligence agencies said the prince likely ordered the operation, though he has denied taking part.
Musk and Trump’s relationship
Musk and Trump were not always on good terms. Early in Trump’s second term, Musk was often seen by the president’s side, even acting as the informal head of the White House DOGE office.
But things changed in June 2025. Musk criticised Trump’s signature “Big Beautiful Bill,” and even threatened to create his own political party.
Trump hit back, warning he would “destroy” Musk’s companies. Their public fallout made headlines for weeks. The tension has eased over the last few months.
The two shook hands at Charlie Cook’s memorial service in September, a moment both Musk and the White House posted proudly on social media.
In October 2025, Trump said he now has a “good” relationship with Musk. “I like Elon, I’ve always liked him,” Trump said.
Their belly-pat moment at Tuesday’s dinner now adds another unexpected chapter to their complicated, very public friendship.
‘What a moment’
Netizens hailed the moment on X. A user noted, “What a moment! Two of the most influential figures of our time in one room. The energy at that dinner must’ve been unreal.”
“Crying over a billionaire handshake is wild. It’s not “historic,” it’s just two guys with too much money doing a photo-op while people online act like it’s some divine moment,” added another.
“It may be difficult, but you just have to like a visionary. Be proud that you live in this time and can experience it,” stated a netizen. “What a night! Great minds dining together—can’t wait to see the genius ideas they cook up,” added a netizen.
“The boys are back!!! So good to see!,” a user claimed. “MAKE ELON N TRUMP Gr8 FRIENDS AGAIN!!,” added another.