A viral clip showing Elon Musk seemingly walking away from his four-year-old son, X Æ A-12, at a MAGA rally has ignited a heated debate online. The footage, widely shared on social media, appeared to show the Tesla CEO exiting the stage while his son struggled to walk down the steps without assistance.
Critics quickly accused Musk of neglect, with one user on X writing, "Elon Musk walks off and leaves his 4-year-old son wandering off stage by himself. This clip legitimately disturbs—and saddens—me."
Elon Musk walks off and leaves his 4 year old son wandering off stage by himself.
— Joshua Reed Eakle 🗽 (@JoshEakle) February 23, 2025
This clip legitimately disturbs—and saddens—me.pic.twitter.com/BiYidgz6Ll
The so-called genius forgot his human shield son. What a loving father. pic.twitter.com/p4Pvy4bIXk
— Mukhtar (@I_amMukhtar) February 23, 2025
However, an extended version of the video has surfaced, revealing a different perspective. In the longer clip, Musk is seen turning back to check on his son, encouraging him to take the steps independently before cheering him on.
Supporters of the billionaire called out the misleading nature of the initial footage, with one user stating, "The liar who posted the earlier clip claiming Elon left his son behind—you’ve been exposed."
A video of Elon Musk “abandoning” baby X went viral yesterday, with many people accusing him of using his child as a prop. Here’s a full unedited video from a different angle. You be the judge. pic.twitter.com/UERJv7h03C
— Ian Miles Cheong (@stillgray) February 24, 2025
The controversy quickly escalated, with Musk’s critics and defenders clashing over the supposed parenting mishap. Some continued to mock him, calling him the “Father of the Year”, while others accused his detractors of spreading deceptive content.
X Æ A-12, born in 2020 to Musk and Canadian musician Grimes, has been a frequent presence at his father’s public appearances. Recently, he made headlines for his candid remarks during a visit to the White House, where he reportedly told Donald Trump, “You’re not the president… you need to go away.” Grimes has allegedly expressed displeasure over Musk bringing their young son to high-profile political events, especially in the Oval Office.
While the internet remains divided over Musk’s parenting style, the full video has shifted the narrative, showing a more supportive moment between father and son. Whether this will quiet the critics remains to be seen, but one thing is clear—every move Musk makes continues to be a lightning rod for controversy.
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