Elon Musk Attends Paternity Hearing Amid Controversy

NEW YORK, May 30, 2025 — Elon Musk made headlines on Thursday for his virtual attendance at a private hearing regarding a paternity and custody case filed by Ashley St. Clair, who claims Musk is the father of her child. The hearing took place shortly after Musk announced his departure from his advisory role in the Trump administration.

The hearing began on May 29 and lasted for two and a half hours. St. Clair alleges that Musk requested secrecy about the birth of their child and later stopped communicating regarding child support, which led her to take legal action. In a report by Daily Mail, Musk appeared via video link wearing a dark suit jacket while his lawyers, Alyssa Rower and Jennifer Isaacman, were present in the Manhattan courtroom.

St. Clair, 26, filed her lawsuit in February. She claims that Musk requested her to keep the birth of their child confidential and ceased communications about financial support shortly after initial negotiations. Following the hearing, St. Clair was seen leaving the courtroom smiling, accompanied by her attorneys, Dror Bikel and Karen B. Rosenthal. She wore a navy blue sweater and a beige coat.

The case was heard in Part 44 of the New York Supreme Court before Judge Jeffrey Pearlman, who ordered the proceedings to be sealed due to their sensitive nature. This request was initially granted on March 14, limiting St. Clair’s ability to publicly discuss the details.

The timing of the hearing raised eyebrows as it occurred less than 24 hours after Musk publicly declared he was stepping down from his role as Special Government Employee with the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). Musk thanked President Trump in a post on social media, citing the importance of the DOGE mission.

As the case unfolds, St. Clair has expressed her need for increased child support following a significant cut from Musk, which she described as punitive. Sources close to the situation criticized Musk’s actions, labeling them as ‘shocking and shameful’. The legal battle continues as both parties prepare for potential future court dates.