 "Musk has not publicly explained why he brought his son to the Oval House press conference, but he has previously spoken about wanting to spend more time with his children despite his demanding schedule. AFP")
A day in the White House Oval Office is usually filled with weighty discussions, major policies, and high-level decisions. But at one recent gathering, all eyes were on someone unexpected—Elon Musk’s four-year-old son, ‘Lil X’.
While the press conference on Tuesday was meant to focus on President Donald Trump and billionaire Doge chief’s first comments on cutting government spending, it didn’t take long for Musk’s little one to steal the show.
“This is X, and he’s a great guy—high IQ,” Trump said at the top of his remarks, chuckling and calling the four-year-old a “high-IQ individual.”
But what was Musk’s kid doing at the White House? Here’s a closer look.
Who is Elon Musk’s son, X?
X Æ A-12 Musk, better known as “X,” is the son of tech billionaire Elon Musk and Canadian musician Grimes (Claire Boucher).
Born in May 2020, his name sparked a frenzy due to its unusual spelling and pronunciation. Initially registered as X Æ A-12, it had to be altered to comply with California’s birth certificate laws.
Musk once explained the pronunciation on The Joe Rogan Experience, saying, “It’s just X, the letter X. Then ‘Æ’ is pronounced ‘Ash,’ and ‘A-12’ was my contribution.”
The 53-year-old billionaire is a father to 12 children from three different relationships. With his first wife, Justine Wilson, he shares twins Griffin and Vivian, as well as triplets Kai, Saxon, and Damian. Their first child, Nevada, tragically passed away in infancy.
With Grimes, he has three children—X, Exa Dark Sideræl (“Y”), and Techno Mechanicus (“Tau”). He also has three children with Shivon Zilis, including twins Strider and Azure, and a third child born in 2024 whose name has not been disclosed.
Musk has been vocal about his belief in large families, aligning with the pronatalist movement, which advocates for higher birth rates to sustain human civilisation.
Though X has largely stayed out of the public eye, Musk has brought him to Tesla events, SpaceX facilities, Trump rallies, and now, even the White House.
What was X at the White House?
X accompanied his father, Elon Musk, to the Oval Office on Tuesday as Musk met with President Donald Trump. As the head of the Department of Government Efficiency, Musk was there for the signing of new executive orders aimed at reducing government spending.
However, during the conference, Musk found himself repeatedly distracted—at one point lifting X onto his shoulders while the child playfully tugged at his ears.
“Sorry for this,” Musk told reporters, laughing. “Otherwise, I might enjoy this, but as he’s sticking his fingers in my ears …”
The White House later shared a video of the moment, highlighting “Little X” in a brown coat and what Musk described as a “cool chain.”
At one point, X was seen picking his nose—a completely normal habit for a child his age. He also charmed the room by politely excusing himself, saying, “Please forgive me, I need to pee.”
Musk has not publicly explained why he brought his son to the meeting, but he has previously spoken about wanting to spend more time with his children despite his demanding schedule.
‘Musk is using his son as a prop’
After images of the four-year-old in the Oval Office went viral, social media erupted with reactions.
Some users on X praised the child’s behaviour, with one writing, “Lil X was very polite today! You raised him well. He was so cute when he told DJT, ‘please forgive me, I need to pee.’”
Others, however, criticised Musk, accusing him of using his son as a political tool. “Elon Musk doesn’t belong in the US government,” one user wrote. Another expressed concern, saying, “Why is Musk’s little son subjected to being a prop for his dad?”
X’s mother, Grimes, also responded to the viral post, writing, “He should not be in public like this. I did not see this, thank u for alerting me. But I’m glad he was polite. Sigh.”
With input from agencies