Who is X Æ A-Xii? Elon Musk's son makes rare appearance at White House

LOS ANGELES - Elon Musk’s son, X Æ A-Xii, made a rare public appearance at the White House on Monday, joining his father for a press conference alongside President Donald Trump. 

Musk, who leads the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), defended the agency’s aggressive cost-cutting measures, calling them "common-sense controls" on federal spending. Trump praised DOGE’s work, claiming it had uncovered "tremendous fraud and tremendous abuse."

Who is X Æ A-Xii?

The backstory:

X Æ A-Xii Musk, often referred to as "X," is the son of Elon Musk and Canadian musician Grimes (Claire Boucher). Born in May 2020, his name originally caused a stir due to its unconventional spelling. It was initially X Æ A-12, but was later changed to comply with California birth certificate regulations.

Musk explained the pronunciation during an appearance on "The Joe Rogan Experience," saying, "It’s just X, the letter X. Then ‘Æ’ is pronounced ‘Ash,’ and ‘A-12’ was my contribution."

While X’s public appearances have been limited, Musk has brought him along to Tesla events, SpaceX facilities, Trump rallies and now, the White House.

Musk’s growing family

By the numbers:

Musk has a total of 12 children from relationships with three different women:

• Justine Wilson – Twins Griffin and Vivian, and triplets Kai, Saxon, and Damian. Their first child, Nevada, passed away in infancy.
• Grimes – X Æ A-Xii, Exa Dark Sideræl ("Y"), and Techno Mechanicus ("Tau").
• Shivon Zilis – Twins Strider and Azure, and a third child born in 2024 whose name has not been publicly disclosed.

Musk has frequently spoken about his belief in having a large family, aligning with his support for the pronatalist movement, which encourages high birth rates.

Why was X at the White House?

X joined his father as Musk met with President Donald Trump in the Oval Office on Tuesday. Musk, who oversees the Department of Government Efficiency, was present for the signing of new executive orders aimed at cutting government spending. 

The sight of Musk’s young son at the event drew attention, as it is uncommon for children to attend official White House functions.

Musk has not commented publicly on why he brought X to the meeting, but he has spoken in the past about his desire to spend more time with his children despite his demanding work schedule.