Musician Grimes has spoken out after her former partner Elon Musk brought their four-year-old son, named X Æ A-Xii or simply X, to the Oval Office during a meeting between Musk and President Donald Trump. The appearance has sparked conversations about family in the public sphere and Musk's pronatalist beliefs.
The meeting on Tuesday featured Musk standing alongside Trump to discuss the Department of Government Efficiency. Adding to the unusual nature of the event was the presence of Musk's young son. Reports detail X being present at the Resolute Desk acting like a typical child. He reportedly knelt by the desk picked his nose and whispered to the president. While some saw it as a humanizing moment for the often controversial tech mogul others have raised questions regarding the appropriateness of bringing a child into such a political setting.
X is one of Musk's twelve children and is his first of three with Grimes. He is frequently seen in public alongside his father. Walter Isaacson's biography of Musk notes X often accompanies his father to meetings and site visits. He was even present when Musk was celebrated as Time Magazine's Person of the Year in 2021 sitting on his father’s lap during the ceremony. Isaacson wrote that X possesses a sweetness that captivated Musk leading him to bring X everywhere.
Musk seemed to enjoy the attention his son received from the Oval Office visit sharing photos and videos on X. He responded positively to a post comparing a photo of X at the Resolute Desk to a famous image of John F. Kennedy Jr. under the same desk. Musk also agreed with a comment advocating for normalizing children being everywhere.
However not everyone shared this positive view. Grimes the mother of X responded to the event with concern. On X she stated "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." Her statement suggests she was unaware of Musk's plan to bring X to the Oval Office and disapproves of her son being in such a public and potentially political environment.
The appearance also comes against the backdrop of Musk's outspoken pronatalist views. He believes declining birth rates are a significant issue and advocates for having more children particularly among those he considers to be of high IQ. Laura Lovett a professor at the University of Pittsburgh specializing in women's political action and pronatalism connects Musk's actions to historical eugenics movements. Lovett noted the language used to describe X as a "high IQ individual" echoing language used in "positive eugenics" which encouraged certain groups to have more children. She argues that bringing X to the Oval Office in this context reinforces gender roles and Musk's pronatalist ideology.
Lovett also draws a parallel between images of X at the Resolute Desk and photos of John F. Kennedy Jr. in the Oval Office suggesting a deliberate attempt to evoke a sense of youthful leadership and national renewal. However she emphasizes the context is different pointing out that this was not a case of necessity but a deliberate choice by Musk. She connects this to Musk's broader political actions like his involvement in cutting Department of Education funding arguing it sends a message about which children are deemed worthy of investment and attention.
What Grimes' Reaction and Oval Office Appearance Mean for Public Perception of Musk's Family
Grimes' public disapproval highlights a potential discordance in how Musk presents his family and the reality of their co-parenting dynamic. While Musk may see X's public appearances as humanizing or even as promoting his pronatalist views Grimes' reaction suggests she prioritizes her son's privacy and well-being outside of the intense public spotlight. This situation throws light on the challenges of raising children in the public eye especially when parents have differing views on how much exposure is appropriate.
Furthermore the Oval Office appearance and subsequent discussion about pronatalism and eugenics adds a layer of complexity to Musk's public image. While some might see it as a harmless family moment others interpret it through the lens of Musk's broader pronatalist agenda and his controversial statements on various social and political issues. The event also brings to the forefront the double standards often faced by women in politics and public life. As Kelly Dittmar from the Center for American Women and Politics points out the reception might be very different if a woman political figure brought her child to such an event. The focus might shift to questions of competence and caregiving rather than seeing it as a humanizing moment.
Our Perspective on the Elon Musk Grimes and Son X Oval Office Situation
The incident in the Oval Office involving Elon Musk his son X and President Trump is multi-layered. It is at once a glimpse into the personal life of a highly public figure a moment of political theater and a reflection of larger societal debates around family pronatalism and public image. While Musk may have intended to project a certain image the varied reactions from Grimes experts and the public demonstrate the complexities of such public displays. It raises important questions about the role of children in the public sphere the responsibilities of public figures and the way personal family choices intersect with broader political and social ideologies. Ultimately the event serves as a reminder that even seemingly personal actions by figures like Musk are subject to intense public scrutiny and interpretation especially when they touch upon sensitive topics such as family politics and ideology.
Source: 19thnews.org , cnn.com, the-independent.com