In the age of social media, viral videos can spread like wildfire, shaping public opinion in mere minutes.
Recently, clips of Elon Musk allegedly leaving his young child alone on stage have been circulating online, sparking debate and criticism.
In the video that has since resurfaced, Musk is walking off stage while his four-year-old son, X AE A-Xii, appeared to struggle with the stairs.
Netizens the billionaire of ignoring his child. But a longer version of the footage paints a different picture.
The video, reportedly from Donald Trump's pre-inauguration rally in Washington, DC, on January 20, captures Musk stepping off the stage, walking ahead while X follows behind.
Why is the video cropped to not show what is directly behind his son, and why does the camera lift up and focus on the second set of stairs and not the one his son was descending?
— Splaticus91 (@Splaticus91) February 24, 2025
Some users accused the billionaire of being an inattentive father, while others defended him, arguing the videos had been manipulated. But what’s the real story?
“Elon left his 4 year old kid to wander around on the stage”
Here’s the reality 🤓
This is why people have started hating legacy media.
pic.twitter.com/boRU93S7N9
The manipulated truth
Upon closer examination, fact-checkers and some internet patrons discovered that the viral clips had been selectively edited and manipulated.
Here’s what happened:
1. The original footage shows Musk briefly stepping away but quickly returning to his child’s side.
2. Some videos were cropped to remove the caregiver or event staff nearby, making it appear as though the child was completely alone.
3. Speed adjustments and cuts were used to exaggerate the moment, giving a misleading impression of abandonment.
This isn’t the first time deepfakes, edited clips, and misleading content have misrepresented famous figures. But why does this happen?
To push a narrative: Some people already have strong opinions about Musk and use doctored content to support their views.
For engagement and virality: Sensational content gets more likes, shares, and comments, increasing visibility.
To generate ad revenue: Viral misinformation can lead to millions of views, benefiting content creators financially.
Meanwhile, unwitting netizens were quick to comment on the post.
One X user wrote: “How can a father just abandon his child like that?”
Another wrote: “@elonmusk insists on bringing his 4-year-old son with him everywhere to use as a PR prop/shield. And watch as he walks down these steps and totally abandons the kid, walking off without so much as glancing behind him to make sure his son made it down safely. Pure. Sociopath.”
"Definitely a candidate for Father of the Year - not," one viewer wrote.
“People are overreacting. The video is clearly edited.” Another defended the tech mogul.
“Why is the video cropped to not show what is directly behind his son, and why does the camera lift and focus on the second set of stairs and not the one his son was descending?”
Some critics used the clips to highlight Musk’s demanding lifestyle and multiple children, while supporters pointed out the dangers of believing viral content without context.
How to spot manipulated videos
With AI and editing tools becoming more advanced, it’s easier than ever to distort reality. Here’s how you can protect yourself from falling for fake viral moments:
- Check the source: Is the video posted by a reliable news outlet or a random user?
- Look for full footage
- Watch for unnatural edits: Sudden cuts, missing background sounds, or time jumps can indicate manipulation.
- Verify with fact-checkers – Websites like Snopes and AFP Fact Check.
Before hitting "share" on a viral video, pause and verify the truth might not be what it seems.