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TechElon Musk

Grimes rips Elon Musk for parading around their 4-year-old during Trump’s press conference: ‘He should not be in public like this’

Marco Quiroz-Gutierrez
By
Marco Quiroz-Gutierrez
Marco Quiroz-Gutierrez
Reporter
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Marco Quiroz-Gutierrez
By
Marco Quiroz-Gutierrez
Marco Quiroz-Gutierrez
Reporter
Down Arrow Button Icon
February 12, 2025, 2:12 PM ET
Elon Musk's son, X Æ A-Xii, sits on his father's shoulders during a press conference in the Oval Office.
Elon Musk's son, X Æ A-Xii, sits on his father's shoulders during a press conference in the Oval Office.Andrew Harnik—Getty Images
  • Elon Musk brought his son, X Æ A-Xii or “Lil X,” to an Oval Office meeting with President Donald Trump, and was criticized by the boy’s mother, Canadian musician Claire Elise Boucher, known as Grimes. Lil X was seen messing with his father’s ears as Musk raved about allegedly corrupt civil servants and his plans to slash the federal budget.

“Sigh.” Elon Musk’s ex-wife is frustrated and wants the Tesla CEO and DOGE chief to stop publicly showcasing their 4-year-old, after Musk brought the child to a press conference in the Oval Office.

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His son, X Æ A-Xii or “Lil X” as his father calls him, has been Musk’s constant companion on Tesla factory trips, meetings on Capitol Hill, and summits with world leaders. On election night Lil X, along with his father, even made the Trump family photo.

Yet the boy’s mother, Canadian musical artist Claire Elise Boucher, known professionally as Grimes, is not a fan of Musk exposing the oldest of their three children to the political spotlight. After Musk brought his son to a press conference where he talked about DOGE and slashing the federal budget as Lil X rubbed his eyes and worried his nose, Boucher protested, saying she didn’t know Musk was taking him to the meeting.

Lil X is stealing the show at Trump and Elon's briefing

Elon: "He's sticking his fingers in my ears, so it's been hard to hear sometimes; hey, stop that!" pic.twitter.com/47alINxTWo

— Media Research Center (@theMRC) February 11, 2025

In response to another user who complimented Lil X’s behavior at the White House, Boucher objected to his presence.

“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,” she wrote in a Tuesday post.

Musk and Grimes could not immediately be reached for comment.

Boucher has in the past criticized her ex-husband, with whom she has two other children, Exa Dark Sideræl Musk and Techno Mechanicus. She has previously said that Musk was “unrecognizable” and added that she “spent a year locked in battle” with Musk over custody of their children. The custody battle was resolved in August 2024, Business Insider reported. In total Musk has 12 known children with multiple women. 

Musk’s son X Æ A-Xii, made faces and worried his nose during a press conference in the Oval Office.
Jim Watson—AFP via Getty Images

During the meeting Tuesday, Musk insisted his DOGE team was being “as transparent as possible” as he raved, without evidence, about corrupt civil servants and officials allegedly approving money for fraud. Meanwhile, Trump sat quietly at the Resolute Desk and mostly deferred to Musk on the cost-cutting measures. With a new executive action, Trump also directed federal agencies to work with Musk’s DOGE team to “significantly reduce the size of the government.” 

Despite the controversy, Lil X stole the show, and could be seen making faces, whispering to Trump, and messing with his father’s ears when Musk lifted him onto his shoulders. The 4-year-old even got a stamp of approval from President Trump.

“This is X, and he’s a great guy—high IQ,” Trump said. “He’s a high-IQ individual.”

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Marco Quiroz-Gutierrez
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Marco Quiroz-Gutierrez is a reporter for Fortune covering general business news.

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