In an unexpected moment that quickly went viral, Elon Musk’s young son, X Æ A-12—affectionately known as X—captured the public’s attention during a recent White House press conference. The event, initially intended to focus on an executive order aimed at cutting costs through the newly established Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), took an amusing turn when the four-year-old stole the spotlight with his playful antics.
The press conference, held in the White House’s East Room, was attended by high-profile officials, including President Donald Trump, cabinet members, and Musk, who was there to discuss the potential impact of DOGE on government spending and technological efficiency. However, as Musk took to the podium to speak, all eyes soon shifted to young X, who accompanied his father to the event.
Dressed in a miniature suit resembling his father’s signature style, X initially stood quietly by Musk’s side. However, within minutes, he began exploring the stage, curiously inspecting the microphones, waving to journalists, and even attempting to push buttons on the speaker’s podium. The audience, a mix of reporters and government officials, couldn’t help but chuckle as the toddler’s uninhibited curiosity played out live on television.
At one point, X grabbed the microphone and blurted out what sounded like “dogecoin,” prompting laughter from the crowd. His father, known for his involvement in the cryptocurrency market and his frequent online jokes about Dogecoin, smirked before gently guiding his son back to his side. “I see he’s been paying attention,” Musk quipped, earning more laughter from the room.
President Trump, known for embracing unscripted moments, appeared amused by the unexpected interruption. “Smart kid—takes after his dad,” he remarked, drawing a grin from Musk. Trump then joked, “Maybe we should put him in charge of DOGE. Sounds like he already knows a thing or two.”
Despite Musk’s efforts to maintain the focus on policy matters, X’s presence continued to divert attention. At one point, he wandered toward the presidential lectern, examining the official seal before pointing at it and exclaiming, “Eagle!” His spontaneous enthusiasm was met with another round of warm laughter, with several journalists snapping photos of the adorable scene.
The lighthearted moment was a welcome contrast to the otherwise serious policy discussion. Musk eventually managed to redirect the conversation back to the intended topic, explaining how the DOGE initiative aimed to leverage artificial intelligence and automation to cut bureaucratic inefficiencies and reduce wasteful government spending. According to Musk, the new department could potentially save billions by streamlining operations and minimizing redundant processes.
However, social media was far more interested in young X than in government efficiency. Within minutes, clips of the toddler’s antics spread across Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok. Hashtags like #LittleMusk, #XGoesToWashington, and #DOGEson quickly trended, with users sharing memes, gifs, and humorous captions about the unexpected star of the press conference. Some speculated that X’s “dogecoin” comment was a subtle marketing move, while others simply enjoyed the lighthearted nature of the moment.
Despite the viral distraction, Musk remained composed and used the opportunity to further emphasize the importance of technological innovation in governance. “Kids are naturally curious,” he noted. “If we applied that same sense of curiosity and creativity to government operations, we’d see real progress.”
By the time the press conference concluded, X had settled back into his father’s arms, seemingly unfazed by the global attention he had just garnered. As Musk and his son exited the stage, a journalist called out, “Will we see X in politics one day?” Musk chuckled and responded, “Who knows? But for now, I think he’s got a promising career in entertainment.”
The moment, though unplanned, served as a reminder that even in the world of politics and high-stakes policy discussions, there’s always room for a little joy and spontaneity. And for young X, it was just another day of exploring the world—one press conference at a time.
