President-elect Donald Trump and former President Obama raised eyebrows as the two men had a friendly conversation, and even laughed, during the funeral for the late former President Jimmy Carter.
A lip reader, Jeremy Freeman, spoke to The Daily Mail and reported on what he believes was said between the two men.
He said that Trump told Obama that it was important that the two meet “today” in a “quiet place” to “deal” with something, The Daily Mailreported.
“Yeah, yeah, I’m fine, yeah, fine, fine, fine. Listen to me. It’s a chore, a chore,” the lip reader said that Obama said.
“Yeah, right. I can’t think of anything that’s a chore,” Trump allegedly said.
According to the lip reader and The Daily Mail the following conversation took place.
Obama said: ‘Maybe, even the… people, even if they aren’t happy, you will come across it, it’s a chore. Now, they can block the entrance, all right.’
Trump then leaned over toward Obama’s ear and said: ‘I’ve pulled out of that. It’s the conditions. Can you imagine that?”
Obama laughed, and Trump carried on, saying: ‘And after, I will…’
Later, according to the lip reader, Obama said to Trump: ‘Are you going back to the foy after?’
Trump responded: ‘Call me at the foy after, yep.’
The word ‘foy’ was unclear to the lip reader, but it could have meant they were arranging a later meeting in the ‘foyer’.
Obama also said to Trump: ‘Can you just… it should be good.’
Trump then responded: ‘I can’t talk, we have to find a quiet place, sometimes this is a matter of importance and we need to do this outside so that we can deal with it, certainly, today.’
Obama nodded and both men said ‘right’ and ‘OK’.
Following the event, Fox News’ Peter Doocy asked Trump directly what he and the 44th president were discussing, to which Trump admitted, “It did look very friendly,” without providing many details.
Trump said he saw the interaction on Doocy’s network, adding, “Boy, they look like two people that like each other, and we probably do. We have a little different philosophies, right? But I think we probably do.”
Carter died last month at the age of 100 and was remembered at a state funeral at the National Cathedral on Thursday. All living presidents attended as the country observed a day of sadness.
That said, the funeral itself was filled with moments of obvious tension. When Vice President Harris sat down in front of Obama and Trump, they stopped talking for a moment, but they picked up right back up seconds later. At one point, Harris turned to face both of them, then turned back around and appeared to have a look of frustration on her face, as did second husband Doug Emhoff, who did not turn around.
Trump leaned in toward Obama, and Obama laughed a few times. While Obama and Trump talked, Melania Trump and Laura Bush, who used to be the first ladies, sat on either side of them and looked forward.
The Clintons talked to each other, and Bush looked like he was waving to other people there.
Karen Pence, the wife of former Vice President Mike Pence, also stirred controversy when she declined to shake hands with Melania during the funeral.
The incident occurred as the Trumps arrived at the Washington National Cathedral, making their first significant public appearance since Donald Trump’s victory in the 2024 presidential election.
Melania appeared to respond with poise, offering a polite smile despite the apparent snub.
Social media users wasted no time weighing in on the snub, with one tweeting, “People with no class, make classless moves,” while anotherwrote, “I would expect nothing less from a Pence.” Saidanother, “She’s the worst.”
“They did not even acknowledge Melania neither did bushes wife.. those frickng people are jealous morons. The mean girls ex first lady club,” another usersaid.
