Elon Musk bringing his young children to a meeting with Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi in the United States (US) has caused more than a flutter. Reactions have ranged from amusement to indignation, sparking discussions on diplomatic propriety, modern parenting, and the shifting norms of professional spaces.

Some critics viewed Musk’s move as a blatant disregard for decorum, trivialising an important occasion. Others called for India to lodge a formal protest, arguing that it insulted the honour of the PM. However, Musk’s approach is not entirely new. In the past, he carried his son, X Æ A-XII, on his shoulders at the Oval Office when meeting then-US President Donald Trump. That moment, too, broke conventional expectations, sparking conversations about how workplaces — corporate and political — are evolving to accommodate family life.

This came to the fore again when Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky’s outfit — a military styled black sweatshirt — to the meeting with Trump at the White House became a hot topic. Zelensky, who has eschewed suits and has worn clothing showing solidarity with his soldiers fighting the Russian army, was even asked by a journalist at the press conference whether he owned a suit.

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