What did Macron & MBS say to each other? Camera catches pally chat at G20 (VIDEO)
The French president appeared smiling but stern towards the Saudi crown prince on the sidelines of t..
The French president appeared smiling but stern towards the Saudi crown prince on the sidelines of the leaders summit in Argentina, but internet lip readers are trying to decipher every word.
One might have expected a less than royal reception for Mohammad bin Salman, as the de-facto ruler in Riyadh remains embroiled in accusations over the death of journalist Jamal Khashoggi at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul in October.
READ MORE: Putin high-fives MBS at G20, but did he shake Trump's hand? (VIDEO)
Instead he appears to be treated as the naughty little brother, receiving a high-five from Vladimir Putin, and what seemed like friendly admonishment from Macron on Friday night in full view of a journalist's camera.
جانب من لقاء الرئيس الفرنسي ماكرون بـ #ولي_العهد الأمير محمد بن سلمان قبيل انعقاد قمة العشرين بالأرجنتين#CrownPrinceInG20pic.twitter.com/NpUlW0bs2L
— الرياض – عاجل (@Riy_Breaking) November 30, 2018
While not all of the English-language conversation appears audible, several journalists have put in the legwork to produce a transcript.
Better transcript:
MbS "Don't worry"
M "I do worry. I am worried, because I am very exp…
MbS "He told me. Thank you."
M "I don't want…
MbS "No"
M "You never listen to me."
MbS "I will listen, of course."
M "…
MbS "It's OK, I can deal with it."
…
M "I am a man of my word" https://t.co/QZBwT3g9LB— Luke Baker (@BakerLuke) November 30, 2018
Highlights include Macron's faux-exasperated "You never listen" ("I will listen, of course" allegedly replies a slightly sheepish MbS) and the crown prince vowing that he is a "man of his word."
To stop the growing rumors about the context of these implicitly understood sentiments the Elysee Palace claimed that the French president was issuing the crown prince with a "very firm" warning over not just Khashoggi, but also the continuing humanitarian crisis in Yemen. With the latter conflict ongoing for more than three years, one wonders if in the past Macron hasn't been firm enough, or maybe the Saudi prince isn't quite as honorable as he claims.
There were other unofficial suggestions put forward – perhaps less accurate, but more to the point.
Macron: "Remember when I said don't murder your critics and definitely don't chop them up? And then what did you do?"
MbS: "I thought you were kidding." https://t.co/u2Kfw16RmT
— Daniel Larison (@DanielLarison) November 30, 2018
Macron: “the Yemeni children being starved and bombed”…
MbS: “yes, I know”
Macron: “…I dont care about them”
MbS (smiling): “yes?”
Macron: “but the murder…”
MbS: “I will do the next one better”
Macron: “merci”— JP Davis (@Karl_Dilkington) November 30, 2018
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