Elon Musk’s son picks his nose in the Oval Office (Image: AFP via Getty Images)
During a joint press conference in the Oval Office with , President appeared to turn away from Musk’s son after the youngster seemingly spoke up unexpectedly.
As Musk addressed the journalists, his son, standing before him, appeared to make another comment, leading Trump to extend his hand in an attempt to quieten the boy while his father continued speaking.
At one point, the boy also seemed to pick his nose, which is not unusual for children of his age. Musk commonly brings his son, known as X AE A-Xii but often called X by Musk, to various campaign events.
Critics on social media swiftly criticised Musk for having his child at Tuesday’s event, some accusing him of using his son as a “prop.”
Trump appears to turn away from Elon Musk’s son (Image: AFP via Getty Images)
One individual remarked on Twitter: “Using his son as a prop. doesn’t belong in US government.”
Another concerned citizen stated: “My concern is for Musk’s little son. Why is he subjected to being a prop for his Dad?”
Musk was in attendance to witness the signing of an executive order intended to reduce the size of the federal workforce, as per the Irish Star.
An examination by The Associated Press of a White House fact sheet about the order disclosed that “agencies will undertake plans for large-scale reductions in force and determine which agency components (or agencies themselves) may be eliminated or combined because their functions aren’t required by law.”
Elon Musk speaks behind Trump as his son stands at his feet (Image: Getty Images)
The report has recommended that federal agencies should “hire no more than one employee for every four employees that depart from federal service.”
Although this policy is set to be the new standard, exceptions have been carved out for roles in immigration, law enforcement and public safety.
Trump entrusted ‘s Department of Government Efficiency, referred to as DOGE, with the mission to sniff out redundant government spending across federal bodies.
Elon Musk’s son sits on the floor as dad talks to the press from behind Trump (Image: Getty Images)
However, Musk is currently hitting roadblocks, facing opposition from federal courts regarding DOGE’s request to access sensitive Treasury records and the initiative to put a large number of USAID staff on furlough. .
US District Judge Carl Nichols, picked by Trump himself, impeded a move that would have pressured thousands of USAID staff stationed overseas into returning to the US within 30 days – relocation costs to be shouldered by the government.
The next day, US District Judge Paul A Engelmayer thwarted DOGE’s attempts to delve into Treasury documents holding private details such as Social Security and bank account information for millions of citizens.
Elon Musk takes his son on his shoulders in the Oval Office (Image: Getty Images)
And mere moments after Musk and Trump stepped away from their joint press briefing on Tuesday, a federal appeals court dismissed a bid to freeze a judge’s directive that the administration discharge billions in withheld federal grants and loans, funds that states argue remain inaccessible despite a legal ruling lifting a wide-ranging suspension on federal funding.
The 1st US Circuit Court of Appeals in Boston has turned down an emergency appeal, yet signals expectation for the lower court judge to quickly clarify his ruling.
The Justice Department has slammed the broad directive from the lower court to preserve all federal grants and loans as “intolerable judicial overreach.”