Donald Trump chose Saudi Arabia for his first official trip abroad during his second term as President of the United States, following the same pattern as at the beginning of his first term. The kingdom welcomed him with full honors, including a military parade and a personal reception at the airport by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

However, footage from the meeting — in which Trump is seen refusing the coffee offer twice — sparked reactions on Saudi social media, with some calling it an insult.

A few hours later, Saudi media aired new footage showing Trump apparently taking a sip. Yet, these clips also sparked new conspiracy theories, with many believing they were AI-generated.

The initial scene was recorded upon the American president’s arrival at Riyadh International Airport. While Trump and the American delegation, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, were served traditional Arab coffee, Rubio immediately drank his, whereas Trump held his cup during his conversation with the Crown Prince before setting it aside.

A second shot, taken during an official ceremony at Al-Yamamah Palace, shows Trump receiving another cup, which he holds between his knees without drinking. However, according to subsequent footage broadcast by Saudi outlets, the American president appears to finally taste his coffee.

Trump has publicly stated in the past that he avoids alcohol, cigarettes, and even coffee — habits he adopted after the death of his older brother, Fred, who struggled with alcoholism. “He was ten years older than me and always told me, ‘Don’t drink, don’t smoke,’” Trump said in a 2015 Esquire interview. “I don’t even drink coffee. I avoid these things because he had such a big problem.” Nevertheless, he has been seen drinking espresso at past campaign events, such as at a Cuban restaurant in Miami during his first presidential run.

Despite his earlier statements, the footage quickly sparked reactions online. In Saudi Arabia, as well as much of the Arab world, offering and drinking coffee is an essential part of hospitality. One user commented: “Donald Trump takes a cup of coffee but just looks at it silently! Trump doesn’t want coffee; he wants money!” Others accused him of ignoring Saudi customs, while some defended him, attributing the gesture to cultural misunderstanding and suggesting he might not be familiar with local traditions.