President Donald Trump recently removed the iconic Resolute Desk from the Oval Office, just one week after Elon Musk’s son, X Æ A-12, made a memorable impression during a high-profile visit. X, Musk’s four-year-old son with artist Grimes, became an internet sensation after joining his father and Trump for a press conference at the White House.
During the event, the young child was photographed picking his nose and wiping it on the historic Resolute Desk, sparking widespread amusement across social media platforms.
The incident quickly went viral, with users speculating about what X might have said to the president during the encounter. Some claimed he said, “I want you to shut your mouth up,” while others theorized he was caught on a hot mic telling Trump, “You are not the president, you need to go away.”
Despite the playful antics, the child was present as the 78-year-old president officially granted Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) additional authority to reorganize the federal government.
Now, just days after the visit, Trump has replaced the famous Resolute Desk with the lesser-known “C&O” Desk. According to the Daily Mail, the president, who has previously described himself as a germaphobe, stated that the change is only temporary while the Resolute Desk undergoes refinishing.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump explained, “A President, after election, gets a choice of 1 in 7 desks.” He added, “This desk, the ‘C&O,’ which is also very well known and was used by President George H.W. Bush and others, has been temporarily installed in the White House while the Resolute Desk is being lightly refinished—a very important job. This is a beautiful, but temporary replacement!”
The timing of the desk swap, so soon after X’s unforgettable visit, has led many to speculate that the refinishing decision was influenced by the toddler’s antics. While Trump has not directly addressed the connection between the two events, he did praise Musk’s son during the press conference, calling him a “high-IQ individual.”
Although the official explanation is that the Resolute Desk is simply being refinished, social media users remain skeptical. Many have joked that X Æ A-12’s “gift” to the desk may have prompted its temporary removal—at least until it receives a thorough cleaning.