Did Elon Musk leave his son behind? The truth behind the viral video

A video of Elon Musk at Donald Trump’s pre-inauguration rally in Washington, D.C., on January 20 has gone viral, gaining over 13.5 million views on X. Posted by a user named Mukhtar, the clip shows Musk walking down the stage steps while his young son, X Æ A-Xii, trails behind, struggling to keep up. The video cuts off abruptly, and the caption reads: “The so-called genius forgot his human shield son. What a loving father.” The implication? That Musk coldly left his child behind.
As the video went viral, reactions poured in the comment section with some criticising Musk’s parenting. One user said, “Abandons a 5 month old. Won't pay child support for another 3. And leaves the shield behind at a major event... yikes.” Another commented, “The Kid is a prop. And just like props... sometimes you forget them!”

But not everything on the internet is as it seems. The video is cut short, making it impossible to see what happens next. However, in another footage from the same event, Musk can be seen waiting for his son. The viral clip only tells half the story, leading to misleading conclusions.

The supporters of Musk all united in the comment section to hold the democrats responsible for manipulating the video to show Musk in the wrong light. One user commented, “They just don’t get it do they. Everyone’s done with the bait and switch games as well as many of there of the lefts tactics.” A second user said, “Thanks for more clarity! As always, 'these ppl' try to bog us down on battlefields of nonsense of their choosing…”
The video comes shortly after X Æ A-Xii joined his father at the Oval Office on February 11, where he stood next to Donald Trump as Musk adjusted his coat. His antics were adored by the social media, however, his mother was not so keen. In an X post she commented, "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."
Born in 2024 to Musk and his former partner, Canadian musician Grimes, X Æ A-Xii has been seen at several high-profile events. He also attended a New Year's celebration at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida.

Manipulation of videos to serve an agenda is nothing new. This time, it may be the so-called Democrats, but conservatives and Trump supporters have done the same in the past. Social media manipulation, especially during elections, has become more common. With little media literacy, many people easily believe these narratives, creating an echo chamber that reinforces their views.
False videos, AI-generated content, and misleading posts influence public opinion, which is harmful to any democratic country. There are no clear regulations on AI usage, making it easier for online content to be manipulated and spread misinformation unchecked.