Elon Musk recently revealed plans to seek full custody of his youngest son after Ashley St. Clair, one of the mothers of his fourteen children, issued a public apology to the transgender community, showing her support for them.
St. Clair attempted to distance herself from her previous views, which often painted transgenderism as a harmful mental health issue. Instead, she expressed a commitment to “privately learning and advocating” for those with gender dysphoria. This marked a notable change from her earlier focus on safeguarding women’s spaces and criticizing the “medicalization” of children. She now suggests that her feelings of “immense guilt” have taken precedence over those concerns.
In response to St. Clair’s statements, Musk indicated on X that he would be filing for custody of his one-year-old son, Romulus.
“I will be filing for full custody today, given her statements implying she might transition a one-year-old boy,” Musk shared.
St. Clair, who previously gained attention as a conservative commentator, has undergone a significant shift in her stance on LGBTQ+ issues. Her public apology on X highlighted her guilt over past comments and her current efforts to learn about and advocate for transgender individuals.
Additionally, she expressed concern about the “pain” her former remarks may have inflicted on Musk’s gender dysphoric child, Vivian Jenna Wilson. Vivian, who was assigned male at birth, legally changed his name after coming out as a transgender female in 2022, stating a desire to sever ties with Musk entirely. Musk had previously criticized this transition, claiming he felt misled into agreeing to consent forms for medical treatments.
“I was tricked into doing this. It wasn’t explained to me that puberty blockers are actually sterilization drugs,” Musk stated back in 2024, expressing grief over what he described as the loss of his son.
In 2021, St. Clair co-authored a book aimed at children, which promoted traditional views about biological identity. The book’s theme reinforced the idea that “boys are not girls,” a message that has been scrutinized amid her recent comments supporting transgender rights. Following her public fallout with Musk, some observers began questioning the authenticity of her conservative persona, suggesting it may have been influenced by financial motivations or to connect with wealthy figures.
St. Clair initially disclosed Musk as the father of her child in early 2025. This revelation sparked a contentious co-parenting dispute that has seen legal actions related to custody and financial support. Tensions flared when St. Clair accused Musk of drastically reducing child support payments and claimed he attempted to control her through financial means, which she asserted was damaging for the child.
Musk countered these allegations on X, asserting that he had already contributed significantly in financial support. The conflict’s details have become public via social media and court documents since the co-parenting situation became known. A paternity test later confirmed Musk’s biological connection to the child, yet battles regarding custody and financial obligations continue to draw significant attention.
With 14 known children from four different women, Musk has often discussed his views on declining birth rates and expresses pride in his sizable family. There are suggestions he may have more children in the future, but only the fourteen he acknowledges have been publicly recognized.
