Elon Musk unexpectedly became one of the most discussed figures at the U.S.-China summit in Beijing — not because of politics or business, but thanks to a short video before the negotiations between Donald Trump and Xi Jinping. The billionaire began to slowly spin with his phone in hand right in front of the Great Hall of the People.
During the preparations for the negotiations between Donald Trump and Xi Jinping in Beijing, social media's attention unexpectedly shifted to Elon Musk.
The tech billionaire found himself at the center of a viral video shot in front of the Great Hall of the People — the main venue for Chinese state events.
In the footage, Musk stands next to other members of the American delegation, including U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, Apple CEO Tim Cook, and representatives from major companies.
While the other participants calmly chat and pose for official photographs, Musk pulls out his phone and begins to slowly spin in a circle, capturing what is happening around him.
The video quickly spread across social media, garnering hundreds of thousands of views in a short time.
Users were particularly amused by the contrast between Musk's relaxed behavior and the formal atmosphere of the event.
"Musk playfully posed for photos like a child, while those around him were dressed in business attire and exuded authority," one user on X wrote.
Other commentators discussed the billionaire's height, noting that he stands out noticeably among the other participants.
"Musk is so tall that standing in a crowd, he looks like a crane among chickens," reads one of the popular comments.
Musk himself reacted to the discussion briefly — posting a laughing emoji without further explanation.
The appearance of the head of Tesla and SpaceX in Beijing was part of a larger American delegation accompanying Donald Trump in negotiations with Xi Jinping.
Along with Musk, leaders from Nvidia, Apple, Boeing, BlackRock, Goldman Sachs, and other major American companies arrived in China.
Experts believe that the participation of business leaders in the trip should underscore Washington's interest in maintaining economic ties with China, despite the ongoing political rivalry between the countries.
Against this backdrop, Musk's spontaneous behavior unexpectedly became one of the most discussed moments of the summit online.
Even at one of the most serious international summits of the year, it was Elon Musk who managed to become the main character on social media once again.
