Elon Musk made headlines this week as he attended a government efficiency meeting with his son, X Æ A-Xii, affectionately known as Lil X, perched on his shoulders. Photos of the unique father-son moment quickly went viral, sparking widespread attention online.
During the meeting, Musk told lawmakers they would maintain a “naughty and nice” list as part of efforts to help Donald Trump streamline federal regulations and reduce government programs.
Last month, the President-elect appointed Musk and fellow entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy to lead the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) as part of his "Save America" agenda for his second term. Although the task force is nongovernmental and advisory in nature, its mission is to identify wasteful practices and achieve “structural reductions” in federal operations. The two will collaborate with the White House Office of Management and Budget, headed by Trump nominee Russ Vought.
While the meeting covered serious topics, much of the online buzz focused on the presence of Lil X.
“DOGE and DOGE Jr,” Musk captioned a photo of himself and his son on X.
“He was awesome today,” said Ramaswamy, adding to the lighter tone of the event.
Netizens responded with enthusiasm:
“Make bringing your kids to work the new normal,” wrote one user.
“Take your child to work day for Elon Musk as he visits Capitol Hill with little X,” commented another.
“Only one CEO in the world shows up to Washington with their son like this. Elon really loves Lil X,” cheered a third.
Musk and Ramaswamy left lawmakers with the impression that more meetings would follow, hinting at plans to hold regular discussions and explore ways, such as podcasts, to engage Americans and gather public feedback on their proposals.
The urgency of the task force's mission is underscored by the nation’s financial state. The federal budget, which stands at $6 trillion, ran a historic $1.8 trillion deficit this year, according to the Congressional Budget Office. The last balanced budget was during the Clinton administration over two decades ago.
Republicans often cite excessive government spending as the primary cause of the deficit, while Democrats point to tax cuts under Republican presidents Donald Trump and George W. Bush as key contributors.
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