Elon Musk, head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), sparked a wave of social media reactions after being spotted with a visible neck scar during US President Donald Trump’s recent cabinet meeting.
In addition to the important mark on his chest, which quickly gained attention on social media, Musk stood out for his unexpected fashion choice, which included wearing both a DOGE cover and a” Gulf of America” hat stack on top of one another.
Trump gently acknowledged Musk’s helmet during the meeting, quipping,” I love the dual hat, by the way. He’s the only person who can get ahead with it. Musk responded,” I told you I wear a lot of clothes,” with his personal humour. Yet my hat is made of a helmet.
While all Cabinet people were wearing the marketed” Gulf of America” clothes in front of them, it was Musk’s appearance, and especially the scar, that sparked online debate.
The obvious wound on Musk’s neck immediately became a hot topic on social media, with users focusing exclusively on it. People on X posted issues and speculative responses, and users posted screenshots of the meeting.
What’s up with Elon’s chest at the White House’s Cabinet meeting today, then? one person posed a question.
What happened to Elon Musk’s chest, a second user wrote,” Hi @Grok, what happened to his chest?” Is that a gash”?
What’s the wound on Musk’s chest, exactly?
Musk’s C5-C6 vertebrae, which he removed a bone spur from, is thought to be the result of a 2020 procedure that he underwent after sustaining spinal injuries during a weightlifting wrestling match at his 42nd birthday celebration. Musk allegedly damaged a ball while attempting a judo throw, which afterwards required surgery.
Musk previously made it known that he had had another neck procedure in January 2025, and that he had been” Recovering from neck surgery.” hurts a bit, but it was required.
Musk shared a blog on X in which he talked about his ongoing spinal problems, saying,” I’ve had five neck/back activities. The C5-C6 fusion, the third one, actually improved the pain from being agonizing to bearable… Generally, my spine was reamed.
