Elon Musk’s children have experienced places that many may never witness firsthand. From engagements with global leaders to the nerve center of a SpaceX launch, Musk’s kids have become regular companions in his journey through technology, business, and, more recently, politics.
They have frequently been spotted in Washington, D.C., ever since former President Donald Trump appointed the tech mogul and Tesla co-founder to head the newly created Department of Government Efficiency.
On Wednesday, Musk’s four-year-old son, affectionately known as “Lil X,” perched on the edge of the Resolute Desk in the Oval Office, dressed in a tan pea coat and a collared shirt.
The following day, X and two of his siblings exchanged presents with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi while Musk engaged in discussions about technological advancements and innovation with the leader.
Musk has long been seen with his children at high-profile events, even before stepping into the political sphere. They have accompanied him to a meeting with Turkey’s president, a memorial service at Auschwitz, and a Time magazine ceremony honoring him as the 2021 Person of the Year.
Why Bring the Children?
Kurt Braddock, a public communication professor at American University, believes that the frequent presence of Musk’s children serves a strategic purpose, making him appear more relatable and fostering a humanized public image.
However, Braddock found it unusual that Musk brought his preschooler to the Oval Office.
During the 30-minute press event, X seemed uninterested, imitating his father, sitting on the floor, and occasionally glancing at President Trump. At one point, he even appeared to tell someone in the room to “shush.”
Braddock suspects this inclusion is deliberate, serving as a distraction that benefits both Musk and Trump.
“There seems to be a calculated effort here to draw attention to certain things while diverting focus from others,” he remarked.
Jon Haber, a strategic communication consultant who has worked on five presidential campaigns and teaches at Harvard, also noted that Musk’s children generating viral moments works in Trump’s favor.
“For Trump, the more disorder there is, the harder it is for people to concentrate on any one issue. Chaos plays to his advantage,” Haber explained.
Musk’s former partner, Grimes, and mother of X, expressed disapproval of her son’s appearance in the Oval Office.
“He shouldn’t be in the public eye like this,” she posted on X (formerly Twitter). “I didn’t see this… but I’m relieved he was polite. Sigh.”
In a 2022 Vanity Fair interview, Grimes admitted she was uncomfortable with her son being so visible.
“No matter what’s happening with family matters, I feel children should be kept out of it, and X is just constantly out there,” she said. “I think E sees him as a protégé and takes him everywhere. But… yeah, I don’t know.”
Musk and His Children
Musk has long allowed his children to accompany him, even before entering politics.
A decade ago, as he worked to elevate Tesla’s profile, it wasn’t unusual to see them at corporate events.
In 2015, at a Tesla unveiling in Silicon Valley, his five children could be seen dashing through hallways, laughing and playing, creating a lively atmosphere amid the otherwise formal event setting.
Unlike traditional corporate gatherings, where executives keep their families separate, Musk’s approach made the event feel informal and warm.
Musk has fathered 12 children with three different women.
His most well-known son, X Æ A-12, nicknamed “Lil X,” shares the same letter that Musk chose when rebranding Twitter after acquiring the platform.
Musk has referred to his four-year-old as his “emotional support human.”
Walter Isaacson, the author of Musk’s biography, described the billionaire as deeply devoted to his children.
“He’s almost obsessed with them,” Isaacson revealed on The Diary of a CEO podcast.
“With his children, romantic partners, and spouses, there is an intense dedication—similar to the passion he brings to everything he does,” Isaacson added.
“Musk always enjoys having some of his kids nearby. He values companionship, though that doesn’t necessarily mean he thrives in tranquility.”
