Elon Musk responds after lip reader claims he asked ‘terrorist’ question at White House
Elon Musk has publicly responded to a claim that he made an inflammatory remark about Saudi Prince Mohammed bin Salman. The allegation stemmed from a high-profile banquet hosted by Donald Trump in honor of the Prince.
A lip reader employed by the Daily Mail reported that Musk asked Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla, “What is your opinion, is he a terrorist?” The report was accompanied by a silent video with subtitles alleging the comment.
Musk firmly denied the accusation on his social media platform, X. He clarified that his conversation was not about the Prince but was instead regarding upcoming cancer drugs, a topic relevant to Pfizer’s pharmaceutical work.
This incident occurred alongside other controversies for Musk. He also faced scrutiny online concerning his 2025 Tesla CEO performance award, which could grant him a significant stake in the company.
Musk addressed those financial claims as well, stating he has not yet received the payment. He explained the award is contingent on meeting specific performance targets for Tesla.
Online reactions to the alleged banquet remark were mixed, though many users supported Musk and criticized the report. One user suggested he should be more careful with his conversations in public settings.
Representatives for both Elon Musk and the lip reader, Nicola Hickling, have been contacted by Tyla for further comment.
