Elon Musk's son X Æ A-Xii accompanies dad during China visit; Musk's funny facial expressions while posing with Tim Cook go viral

Top US business leaders, including Elon Musk, Tim Cook and Jensen Huang, met Chinese Premier Li Qiang in Beijing on Thursday during high-level China-US business talks held alongside US President Donald Trump's visit. Musk was also seen arriving with his son, X Æ A-Xii.

Musk quickly became an unexpected online sensation during Trump's China visit, as social media users focused on his expressions, reactions and candid moments at official events in Beijing. Although Musk was part of a high-profile delegation accompanying Trump for meetings with Chinese President Xi Jinping, it was not policy discussions or business ties that dominated online conversations — it was Musk's facial expressions and playful interactions.

Clips and photos from a formal Chinese state banquet soon went viral on X (formerly Twitter), with users highlighting how Musk was repeatedly approached by attendees for photographs and responded with exaggerated, humorous expressions while posing.

One viral post read: "Elon Musk is repeatedly being approached by fans in China begging for photos. He keeps making funny faces. This will be the world's first trillionaire — he deserves it!"

Several users also focused on Musk's interactions with Tim Cook, who attended the event as part of the US business delegation. One widely shared post stated, "Elon Musk poses for pictures with Apple's Tim Cook at the Chinese state banquet in Beijing." Another added, "Elon Musk makes funny faces while taking a photo with Tim Cook in Beijing."

Images of the two tech leaders smiling and reacting mid-photo quickly became meme material across social media platforms.

What particularly stood out for online audiences was the contrast between the highly formal diplomatic setting and Musk's relaxed, unfiltered demeanor. While the banquet was part of a tightly choreographed state visit involving Donald Trump and senior Chinese officials, Musk's amused smirks and exaggerated reactions emerged as one of the most widely shared visual moments of the evening.

Known for his unpredictable public persona, Musk appeared relaxed throughout the trip, engaging freely with cameras and attendees. The episode added to his long history of viral internet moments, where offhand gestures and candid expressions often attract more attention than his official remarks or business announcements.