US President Donald Trump briefly mixed up Elon Musk’s name during a speech at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland, referring to the billionaire as “Leon” before immediately correcting himself. The moment, captured on video, went viral and triggered a flurry of reactions on social media.
According to The Mirror US, the slip occurred as Trump addressed US Air Force service members after unveiling the new Air Force One aircraft.
Trump calls Elon Musk ‘Leon’ before correcting himself
While speaking about Starlink, the satellite internet service operated by Musk’s SpaceX, Trump said, “My friend Leon,” before pausing and correcting himself with, “…my friend Elon.”
The president continued his remarks without acknowledging the mistake. However, clips of the exchange were shared online, with many users commenting on the verbal slip involving one of Trump’s longtime political allies.
The viral clip prompted a range of reactions on X, with some users drawing comparisons to previous scrutiny of politicians over verbal gaffes. One user wrote, “MAGA can’t be serious that he’s ok, they made fun of Joe Biden for looking sleepy, but he sounds confused, is falling asleep in public and meetings, and there is evidence of his hands and ankles being swollen.”
Others dismissed the incident as a minor mistake. Another user commented, “He’s done it before, though…multiple times… and this time he corrected himself.”
The social media claims have not been independently verified.
Trump’s relationship with Musk has had public highs and lows
The viral moment comes months after a highly publicized fallout between Trump and Musk following the latter’s departure from the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
At the height of their disagreement, Musk claimed Trump would not have won the 2024 presidential election without his support, writing, “Without me, Trump would have lost the election… Such ingratitude.”
Despite the public clash, the pair appeared to have mended ties when Musk joined Trump’s delegation during the president’s visit to China in May.
The White House had not publicly commented on the incident at the time of publication.
