Musk Gives Bizarre Explanation For His Black Eye During Oval Office Conference—But Nobody's Buying It

Billionaire Elon Musk was mocked after he tried to explain away his noticeable black eye to reporters during an Oval Office press conference on Friday, blaming it on X Æ A-12, his 5-year-old son.

Musk, standing beside President Donald Trump, spoke to reporters as he prepared to leave his formal government role leading the advisory Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). It was hard not to notice the purple-and-yellow discoloration around his right eye, which he said he received while “horsing around” with X.

Musk, joking about a recent incident when French President Emmanuel Macron was pushed by French First Lady Brigitte Macron, said:

Well, I wasn't anywhere near France... I was just walking around with Lil X, and I said, 'Go ahead,' punch me in the face, and he did. Turns out even a five-year-old punching you in the face actually does... I didn't really feel much at the time."

You can hear what Musk said in the video below.

No one was buying it—and people couldn't help but laugh at Musk in response after photos of his black eye went viral.

X is one of three children Musk shares with musician Claire Boucher, known professionally as Grimes. Of Musk’s at least twelve children, X has been the most visible in recent months, frequently appearing with his father at high-profile events, including a White House press conference and a Trump rally, where he was seen onstage.

Grimes has publicly expressed concern over X’s growing presence in the spotlight, saying she has “begged” Musk to keep their children—particularly X—out of the public eye. Despite her pleas, the child continues to be photographed at many of Musk’s public appearances.

Grimes and Musk have long held differing views on parenting, a tension that has occasionally spilled into public view. Their disagreements culminated in a custody battle over their children, which was reportedly settled in a Texas court in August 2024.

The singer recently said she "would hope there was some law that would allow a parent to veto small children from living public lives but I don't even trust the law to help me now if I tried to invoke it."