In a shocking twist that has sent social media and the global press into a frenzy, Elon Musk announced he will seek full custody of his child with conservative commentator Ashley St. Clair, following her recent public support for the transgender community.
The billionaire tech mogul, no stranger to headline-grabbing controversies, claims St. Clair’s statements could impact the upbringing of their child intensifying a high-profile saga that has captivated millions worldwide.
Prior to 2025, Ashley St. Clair was relatively unknown outside conservative circles. The former right-wing influencer first made international headlines when she publicly revealed on Valentine’s Day that Elon Musk was the father of her son, Romulus. “Five months ago, I welcomed a new baby into the world.
Elon Musk is the father,” St. Clair stated, emphasizing that she had withheld the information to protect their child’s privacy from tabloid scrutiny.
Since then, Musk and St. Clair have been embroiled in a series of public disputes. Last March, St. Clair was filmed selling her Tesla, claiming she was forced to cover a 60% reduction in child support payments from Musk. “I need to make up for the cut Elon made to our son’s support,” she told reporters, adding, “I’m not the only one cleaning up after his messes.”
Musk responded on X (formerly Twitter), publicly acknowledging the child and stating, “I don’t know if the child is mine or not, but am not against finding out. No court order is needed.” Musk reportedly provided $2.5 million initially and committed to $500,000 annually in support.
The situation escalated after St. Clair posted a heartfelt apology addressing her past comments on the transgender community, expressing guilt for causing pain to Musk’s daughter, Vivian. “I feel immense guilt for my role, and even more guilt that things I have said in the past may have caused my son’s sister more pain,” St. Clair wrote, while emphasizing her ongoing private advocacy for the trans community.
Musk, who has at least 14 children with four women, has a history of publicly expressing anti-transgender sentiments and referred to Vivian as “dead” in 2024. Following St. Clair’s statements, he declared, “I will be filing for full custody today, given her statements implying she might transition a one-year-old boy,” although St. Clair has made no claims of transitioning her child.
The custody dispute follows last year’s contentious paternity battle, during which Musk allegedly offered $15 million to St. Clair to remain silent about Romulus but later volunteered for a paternity test.
Adding fuel to the fire, St. Clair criticized Musk’s Grok AI platform after a user allegedly sexualized a 14-year-old image of her. “I felt horrified, I felt violated, especially seeing my toddler’s backpack in the background,” she told The Guardian. Musk responded by limiting the controversial feature to paying users, though AI content remains under global scrutiny.
Ashley St. Clair, 27, is a former conservative commentator, author, and political influencer. She previously endorsed Donald Trump and wrote the children’s book Elephants Are Not Birds, which critiques gender fluidity. She also served as a writer for The Babylon Bee and was formerly affiliated with Turning Point USA.
As this custody battle unfolds, the eyes of the world remain fixed on Musk and St. Clair, blending elements of celebrity, politics, and social controversy.
Analysts predict the case could spark wider debates on parental rights, social media influence, and the intersection of personal beliefs with child custody in the modern era.
