During the recent memorial service for Jimmy Carter, a surprising moment between Donald Trump and Barack Obama caught the eye of many. Questions swirled as to what the two were actually discussing, as they appeared to share a light-hearted moment.
It’s not every day you see these two political heavyweights—who often stand at opposite ends of the spectrum—sitting side by side, smiling, and engaging in what seemed like a friendly chat. For many, this instance, which occurred on January 9th during Jimmy Carter’s funeral, was unexpected but intriguing.
Delving into Their Conversation
A forensic lip-reader from the UK, Jeremy Freeman, has taken a closer look to shed some light on what might have transpired between the two. He scrutinized the live footage from that day to interpret their conversation.
While not entirely certain of the words exchanged, Freeman speculated that international agreements might have been the topic. According to his analysis, Trump signaled to Obama, possibly referencing his decision to exit previous international pacts, “I’ve pulled out of that…can you imagine?”
This could hint at Trump’s past decision to back out of the Iran nuclear deal or his withdrawal from the Paris Climate Agreement during his presidency. In response to Trump’s comment, Obama seemed amused as he reportedly replied, “And after, I will.”
Continuing, Trump supposedly mentioned a potential meeting spot, saying, “Call me at the foy after, yep,” which Freeman interpreted as a reference to the cathedral’s foyer where they were. Obama’s response was perceived to be along the lines of “Can you just” and “It should be good.” A need for privacy was also suggested through Trump’s alleged words, “We have to find a quiet place sometime.”
The interaction wrapped with Obama nodding and mentioning, “Listen to me, it’s a chore, a chore,” a statement left open to interpretation.
Trump’s Take on the Exchange
After the footage went viral, Trump addressed the incident, expressing surprise at the impact it made. “I didn’t realize how friendly it looked,” he remarked to journalists. “Boy, they look like two people that like each other,” he added, acknowledging their congeniality in spite of their differences.
This sentiment extended to their political standings, as Trump reflected, “We have a little different philosophies, right? But we probably do.” In a lighter tone, he continued, “I don’t know. We just got along—But I got along with just about everybody.”
Despite their good-natured interaction at the funeral, the duo’s history is lined with quarrels. Trump had once accused Obama of directing intelligence agencies to spy on his initial presidential campaign. Meanwhile, Obama has poked fun at Trump’s preoccupations, even likening his lengthy speeches to those of Fidel Castro.
Until now, Obama hasn’t commented on their brief tête-à-tête, leaving the public to wonder about the truest meaning behind their shared moment.
