Tech billionaire Elon Musk has declared he will seek full custody of his youngest child, a one-year-old son named Romulus, following online comments made by the boy's mother, Ashley St Clair, which expressed sympathy for the transgender community.
The Spark: Online Remarks Trigger Legal Threat
On Monday morning, the 54-year-old owner of X, formerly Twitter, responded directly to users on the platform who had highlighted St Clair's recent posts. Musk stated his intention to file for custody, alleging her comments implied she "might transition a one-year-old boy."
Ashley St Clair has not made any statements suggesting she would medically transition her infant son. Her posts were broadly apologetic for past remarks and supportive of transgender rights. In one post, she expressed "immense guilt" for her previous role and a desire to advocate for the trans community. Another read, "twitter was better when it was woke tbh."
A Fractured Family Dynamic
The situation is set against a backdrop of existing family tension concerning transgender identity. Another of Musk's children, Vivian, came out as transgender in 2022 and has been openly critical of her father. St Clair referenced "my son's sister" in her apology, alluding to Vivian.
In 2024, Musk publicly condemned Vivian's transition, claiming he was "essentially tricked" into signing documents for gender-affirming care during the COVID-19 pandemic. He stated, "I lost my son, essentially... my son, Xavier, is dead, killed by the woke mind virus."
Vivian strongly rebutted these claims in an interview, stating her father "was not by any means tricked" and describing her medical treatment as life-saving. She also recounted instances of Musk harassing her for her femininity during childhood.
Background and Reactions
Ashley St Clair, an influencer, publicly announced Musk was the father of her child last year after the pair were seen interacting on X. She has been a figure in right-wing political circles, attending events at Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate.
Musk's custody announcement came in reply to a user who warned he "needs full custody," accusing St Clair of "supporting trans grooming." Other critics online accused her of abandoning right-wing views for monetary gain.
Elon Musk is father to at least eleven children from various relationships, including six with first wife Justine Wilson, three with musician Grimes, and three with Neuralink executive Shivon Zilis. Vivian and her twin are his eldest living children.
Neighbours at St Clair's luxury condo have confirmed the presence of a baby and a full-time nanny but noted no signs of Musk having visited the property.
