From the control room of a SpaceX launch to meetings with foreign leaders, Musk's kids have always been there to support their father's commercial, tech, and now political pursuits.
Since President Donald Trump appointed the tech mogul and co-founder of Tesla to head the newly established Department of Government Efficiency, they have been seen in the nation's capital on a regular basis.
The four-year-old "Lil X" of Musk, wearing a collared shirt and a tan pea coat, was hanging from the corner of the Resolute desk in the Oval Office on Wednesday.
X and two of his siblings presented gifts to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday, as their father spoke with the foreign leader about innovation and technology.
Even before travelling to Washington, Musk was often spotted with his kids, including during a meeting with the Turkish president, a memorial service at the Auschwitz concentration camp, and a Time magazine ceremony where he received the 2021 Person of the Year award.
However, why do Musk's kids accompany him?
Kurt Braddock, a professor of public communication at American University, says, "The inclusion of the kids in many public appearances is very much a politician move or a political move to make him seem a bit more personable (and) take a human approach to how the public views him."
Why bring the children?
However, Mr. Braddock said it was out of the ordinary for Musk to bring his preschooler to the Oval Office.
X emulated his father, sat on the floor, and got the occasional sidelong glance and smile from the head of the free world during the 30-minute press briefing, giving the impression that he was bored. He seemed to tell someone in the room to "shush" their mouth at one point.
According to Mr. Braddock, he thinks their presence is deliberate and serves as a diversion for the mutual advantage of Trump and Musk.
"I do think that there is a bit of a strategy here trying to draw attention to some things while diverting attention to other things," he stated.
According to Jon Haber, a Harvard professor and strategic communication expert who has worked with five presidential campaigns, Trump benefits from Musk's kids making frequent appearances and generating viral moments.
"For Trump, no one can truly concentrate on anything the more turmoil he causes and the more he floods the area. He thrives on chaos," Mr. Haber remarked.
The mother of X and Musk's ex-girlfriend Grimes blasted her son's look in the Oval Office.
She commented, "He should not be in public like this," in a post on X. "I didn't see this... But at least he was courteous. "Sigh."
She stated in a 2022 Vanity Fair piece that she didn't want her son being the centre of attention.
"I just think that kids should not be involved in family matters, and X is just out there." E is bringing him to everyone and everything, and I believe that he truly views him as a protégé.… X is out there. That's his situation. However, I'm not sure."
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