It seemed that Elon Musk was in The Oval Office to do a job, yet, dressed very casually and with his four-year-old son in tow, he appeared to be making a courtesy call

He is a billionaire, and a billionaire dresses as he pleases, even in The Oval Office. Elon Musk was keen to let you know that. Two days ago, while visiting the formal working space of the president of the United States, not Mar-a-Lago, Mr Musk showed up in a T-shirt (it could also be a sweatshirt). He was not there as a family friend who dropped by because he was in the vicinity, and wanted to say hello. He was there to attend a press conference and to defend his decisions so far, including enthusiastic firing of federal employees, a task he appointed himself to do as a “special government employee” for the created-just-for-him, Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). The optics, as the The New York Times noted, “underscored the billionaire’s influence and power in breaking and reshaping the government — and how few limits he appears to face.”

This was a work day. Others in attendance wore a suit and a tie, as Donald Trump did (for this occasion, he had on a tie in muted blue). But Mr Musk ignored the uniform of MAGA politicians, and appeared as if he was on the way to the corner store to pick up a carton of milk. Or to a baseball game. The T-shirt—with text across the chest that cannot be discerned—was worn under a black topcoat. Skinny black pants with the silhouette of jeans completed the picture of calculated casualness. We could not see how he was shod, but up north, on his head, he wore a Trump-pleasing-and-approved MAGA hat in black with grey text, and what appeared to be Donald Trump’s signature on the visor. Netizens were quick to note that Mr Musk could have violated the Hatch Act, which disallows federal employees from “displaying partisan political items such as buttons, t-shirts, signs, or other accessories.” His supporters, however, were adamant that he isn’t a government employee, but a mere “advisor”. Guilty not.

Mr Musk ignored the uniform of politicians, and appeared as if he was on the way to the corner store to pick up a carton of milk

Whatever his advisory role is, Mr Musk appeared more powerful than anyone present at The Oval Office, without befitting attire to boot. Yes, even President Trump, who was hunched over the unpopulated-with-important-documents Resolute Desk. Standing and towering over the one who desires to turn the Gaza into the “Riviera of the Middle East”, he was a every bit the techpreneur billionaire who cares not about what others think of his can’t-be-bothered turnout. He does not need to look like a guy welcomed by Mr Trump into the government or someone happily received at The Oval Office. He was garbed in what could be his regular meeting attire at SpaceX or Tesla. Dressed to appear important is not required as he is important, more so now that he is part of the U.S. government even if, according to media reports, he is not remunerated for his controversial DOGE role. Unpaid, yet he wields immense power.

The power meant that he could bring along with him to The Oval Office a living prop—X Æ A-Xii (pronunciation not required), his son with the Canadian pop star Grimes. Little X, as he is called, even enjoyed an introduction by Donald Trump: “This is X. He’s a great guy—high IQ. He’s a high IQ individual.” And we know how much Mr Trump gravitates towards those with high IQ. Is that why the four-year-old was allowed into The Oval Office? The preschooler was better (or more appropriately?) dressed than his father (he even wore a shirt), but he was far more restless, kneeling by the Resolute Desk, picking his nose, and whispering to the president, as if the old man was his familiar paternal grandfather. There was even speculation among Netizens that Little X had told the president to “shush”! He also sat on his father’s shoulder while the billionaire spoke of his plans that has affected many Americans. Even without the child, clearly bored in a place that was not a playground, it is hard to say what it all meant: the ambitious billionaire in the company of the disruptive felon-as-president.

Screen shot: CNBC