During the discussion, Secretary of State Marco Rubio discreetly passed Trump a handwritten message. Instead of keeping it private, Trump announced, “Marco just gave me a note,” and read its contents out loud: “Go back to Chevron. They want to discuss something.” He then added, “Go ahead, I’m going back to Chevron. Thank you, Marco.”
The unexpected public reading of what was meant to be a confidential prompt drew visible reactions. Rubio appeared uncomfortable, and others in the room responded with surprise or amusement at the unplanned disclosure.
The meeting itself was intended to engage companies like Chevron, ExxonMobil, and ConocoPhillips about future investment in Venezuelan oil operations and related strategic energy goals. Despite the high‑profile gathering, the note incident quickly became the defining moment of the day on social media and in news coverage.
Political observers and commentators highlighted the episode as a rare public gaffe during a formal policy discussion, prompting reactions from critics and supporters alike. Many online discussions focused on communication challenges and the unpredictability of live political events.
Overall, the note‑reading moment became a viral highlight of the weekend, overshadowing parts of the substantive policy talk and sparking broader reactions about leadership and public speaking in high‑stakes settings.