Elon Musk has once again found himself at the centre of global attention after his facial expressions during a state dinner hosted by Chinese President Xi Jinping went viral online, leading some commentators to label him an 'occasional villain.'
The Tesla and SpaceX chief was attending the high-profile Beijing banquet as part of a major diplomatic delegation, but it was not policy talks or business deals that stole the spotlight.
Instead, Musk's awkward reactions while posing for photographs with fellow executives quickly became a talking point across Chinese social media, turning a formal state event into an unexpectedviral moment.
Elon Musk was among a group of top global business leaders invited to attend a formal state dinner hosted by President Xi Jinping in Beijing. The event formed part of a widerdiplomatic summit involving US President Donald Trump and senior cabinet officials, alongside tech executives such asApple CEO Tim Cookand Nvidia chief Jensen Huang.
The gathering was intended to strengthen economic ties and discuss areas of cooperation between China and the United States, particularly in sectors like artificial intelligence, electric vehicles and advanced manufacturing. Musk's presence highlighted Tesla's continued strategic importance in the Chinese market, which remains one of the company's largest sources of revenue.
Despite the serious political and economic agenda, attention soon shifted away from negotiations and towards a lighter, unintended moment involving the billionaire entrepreneur.
Theviral incidentoccurred when Xiaomi CEO Lei Jun, a well known admirer of Musk, approached him for a selfie ahead of the state banquet. Lei, who was among the first owners of a Tesla Model S in China, has often publicly praised Musk as an inspiration in the global tech industry.
However, what should have been a routine photo opportunity quickly became an online sensation. As Lei requested the selfie, Musk appeared visibly unamused, raising his eyebrows and letting out what observers described as an exaggerated sigh before the picture was taken.
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The moment was captured on camera and rapidly spread across Chinese social media platforms, where users jokingly suggested that Lei had been 'humbled by his hero.' Many commented on Musk's expression, interpreting it as everything from fatigue to mild irritation at the constant attention.
Source: International Business Times UK
