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A surprise White House appearance by Elon Musk's 4-year-old son has sparked a public response from his mother, singer Grimes, highlighting ongoing tensions over their children's privacy. The incident occurred during a February 11 press conference where President Donald Trump signed an executive order expanding the powers of Musk's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
During the Oval Office event, X Æ A-Xii was seen making faces and tugging at his father's clothing as Musk fielded questions from reporters. The child's presence became particularly notable when he politely interrupted the proceedings to announce his need for a bathroom break, addressing the President directly.
"He should not be in public like this," Grimes wrote on X after learning about her son's appearance from a social media user. "I did not see this, thank u for alerting me. But I'm glad he was polite. Sigh." The singer, whose legal name is Claire Boucher, indicated she had not been informed of her son's participation in the high-profile political event.
The incident follows a pattern of increasing public appearances for X Æ A-Xii, who was also spotted with his father at Trump's New Year's Eve celebration at Mar-a-Lago. President Trump himself acknowledged the child during the press conference, stating, "this is X, and he's a great guy. High IQ."
This latest development comes amid a complex co-parenting relationship between Musk and Grimes, who share three children: X Æ A-Xii, Exa Dark Sideræl, and Techno Mechanicus. Their custody arrangements were recently settled in a Texas court, with Grimes reportedly having custody on alternating weeks.
The situation reflects broader challenges Grimes has faced in maintaining boundaries with her ex-partner's public life. In January, she found herself defending her position after Musk's controversial one-armed gesture at Trump's inauguration sparked backlash. "It's absurd that someone can be this cancelled for something their ex did before they even heard it happened," she stated on X. "I choose my children's wellbeing."
The Oval Office incident highlights the ongoing tension between public interest in Musk's political activities and Grimes' stated priority of protecting their children's privacy. As Musk's role in politics expands through his leadership of DOGE, questions about the appropriate balance between public exposure and private family life remain at the forefront of discussions surrounding the high-profile former couple.
