Did Elon Musk leave his son behind? The new video reveals truth behind

A viral video in which tech billionaire Elon Musk appears to leave his 4-year-old son behind has gone viral on social media. 

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!”

— I_amMukhtar (@I_amMukhtar)

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.

— Kalalautrekker (@Kalalautrekker)

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 their of the left 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 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."

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.

Why is media literacy important?

 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.