What does Trump's cryptic 'Bela' post mean? Internet speculates
18 Aug 2025

US President Donald Trump has left the internet puzzled with a recent post on Truth Social.

The four-letter word "Bela" was shared amid a series of posts about his meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The sudden appearance of this term has sparked widespread speculation and debate among social media users, some even drawing parallels to Trump's infamous "covfefe" tweet from 2017.

Possible meanings of 'Bela'
Speculation

The meaning of "Bela" remains unclear, with many suggesting it could be a typo, nickname, or coded message.

The term has also been associated with the Basic Education Laws Amendment (BELA) law in South Africa, which is reportedly controversial.

Despite the widespread speculation, Trump has not clarified his post's intent or meaning.

Trump talks about meeting with Putin
Possible connection

Before his cryptic post, Trump had shared another message on Truth Social about his meeting with Putin.

He said there was "BIG PROGRESS ON RUSSIA" and asked people to "stay tuned."

The post also included a hypothetical scenario where he could get Russia to give up Moscow as part of a deal.

This was presumably an interpretation in reference to the Ukraine war, which has seen Russia annex parts of Ukraine's territory.

'Bela' trends on X
Online reactions

The term "Bela" has also started trending on X, formerly known as Twitter. Many have drawn parallels between this and Trump's infamous "covfefe" tweet from 2017.

California Governor Gavin Newsom's office mocked Trump over the post, while The Lincoln Project dubbed it the new "covfefe."