Real reason Elon Musk had a black eye

During a joint press conference on May 30, Elon Musk and President Trump marked the end of Musk’s time as head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). Dressed in a “DOGE” hat and “The Dogefather” shirt, Musk stood out even more because of a noticeable black eye. Speculation quickly spread on social media, with users asking whether Musk had been in a fight. Musk eventually addressed the questions, joking he wasn’t “anywhere near France,” referencing a viral slap video, and explaining the injury came from playing around with his son, X Æ A-12, also known as “Little X.”

Musk explained that he had let his son punch him in the face, resulting in the visible bruise. Despite sitting beside Musk during the meeting, President Trump admitted he hadn’t noticed the black eye at all. Musk shares three children with his ex, Grimes, and previously lost his first son, Nevada Alexander, to SIDS at 10 weeks old. He also has four kids with Neuralink executive Shivon Zilis and reportedly one with Ashley St. Clair. The incident and Musk’s explanation added a personal moment to the otherwise official event.