Donald Trump’s private remark about Vladimir Putin during a White House summit has gone viral. The 79-year-old U.S. leader had recently met Putin in Alaska, their first in-person talks since 2019, to discuss ending Russia’s war in Ukraine. Though “no deal” was reached, Trump told reporters there was a “very good chance of getting there.”

At a follow-up meeting in Washington with Emmanuel Macron, Keir Starmer, Volodymyr Zelenskyy and other European leaders, Trump was caught in a hot mic moment. Leaning toward Macron, he whispered: “I think he wants to make a deal… I think he wants to make a deal for me.”

Later, Trump doubled down, telling journalists: “I’ve known him for a long time, I’ve always had a great relationship with him… I think President Putin wants to find an answer too. We’ll see.”

Putin also praised Trump for his “friendly” approach and “understanding that Russia has its own national interests.” Macron, when asked about the slip, said a lasting peace would be “great news” and noted that Trump was “very confident about the capacity he has to get the deal done.”

Lip readers claimed the leaders’ first handshake included Putin telling Trump: “I am here to help you,” to which Trump replied, “I hope it does.”