Elon Musk and his family are facing backlash after photos showed him traveling with his mother and son on Air Force One, the official aircraft for the U.S. President.
The tech billionaire was seen in the window of the jet alongside his mother, Maye Musk, and four-year-old son, X Æ A-Xii, at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland. The sighting came as a surprise to many, especially considering Air Force One is typically reserved for the President, government officials, or heads of state.
The trio was also seen aboard Marine One, the helicopter typically reserved for the President as well. These images have led to a wave of criticism, with some pointing out the government waste at a time when the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) is facing budget cuts. Others are concerned about Musk’s increasing influence in Washington, with some fearing he may hold more sway over U.S. policy than the President himself.
On Sunday evening, Musk, his mother, and his son were photographed exiting Air Force One as the plane landed at Joint Base Andrews. The base is near Washington D.C., and is where the Presidential Airlift Group, which manages the planes that transport the President, is located. An Associated Press photo caption referred to the arrival happening “upon President Donald Trump’s arrival at Joint Base Andrews.”
In another set of photos, Musk and his family can be seen stepping off Marine One, which landed on the White House’s South Lawn.
There are also reports and photos showing Musk and his family entering the White House, leading some social media users to speculate that they were chauffeured to the residence and may even be staying there.
Chris D. Jackson, a political strategist and former elected official, expressed his shock on social media, saying: “This is beyond outrageous. Elon Musk, his cranky mother Maye, and one of his young kids were chauffeured in Air Force One and Marine One—straight to the White House, where they’re apparently staying. WTF is going on? It goes without saying, this is not normal.”
Marty Taylor, the executive director of NewBlue USA, a political action committee that says it “fights to protect American democracy,” also criticized the situation. He wrote: “This is outrageous and possibly illegal. No matter how much Donald Trump and scared complicit Republicans want Elon Musk to be president, he is not and Air Force One should not be used for Musk and his family. Musk owns a fleet of jets. Let him pay for his own travel and lodging. And keep his a** out of our White House.”
The Lincoln Project, a pro-democracy group, also weighed in, posting on social media: “Your tax dollars are paying for the richest man in the world to fly around when he has his own jets. That’s government waste.”
Check some of the photos below:
