Donald Trump calls Elon Musk ‘Leon’ during Air Force speech; Internet reaction: ‘MAGA can’t be serious’
US President Donald Trump briefly confused Elon Musk’s name during a speech at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland, calling the billionaire “Leon” before immediately correcting himself. The moment, captured on video, went viral and sparked a flurry of reactions on social media.
According to the American Mirror, the mistake occurred when Trump was addressing U.S. Air Force service members after launching the new Air Force One aircraft.
Referring to Starlink, the satellite internet service operated by Musk’s SpaceX, Trump said: “My friend Leon,” then paused and corrected himself, “…my friend Elon.”
The president continued speaking without admitting his mistake. However, clips of the exchange were shared online, with many users commenting on the verbal gaffe involving one of Trump’s longtime political allies.
social media reaction
The viral video prompted a flurry of reactions on X, with some users comparing it to previous scrutiny of politicians’ gaffes. One user wrote, “There’s no way MAGA can seriously say he’s okay, they’re making fun of Joe Biden looking sleepy, but he sounds confused, falls asleep in public and in meetings, and there’s evidence of swelling in his hands and ankles.”
Others dismissed the incident as a minor mistake. Another user commented: “He’s done it many times before though…he corrected himself this time.”
The social media claims have not been independently confirmed.
Trump-Musk relationship has had public highs and lows
The viral moment comes months after a highly publicized feud between Trump and Musk after they left the Department of Government Effectiveness (DOGE).
At the height of their disagreement, Musk claimed that Trump would not win the 2024 presidential election without his support, writing, “Without me, Trump would have lost the election…How ungrateful.”
Despite the public conflict, the two appeared to have mended their relationship when Musk joined Trump’s delegation during the president’s visit to China in May.
As of press time, the White House has not publicly commented on the incident.
