Elon Musk has made headlines for everything from electric cars to interplanetary ambitions—but during a recent White House cabinet meeting, it was his wardrobe, not his work, that had everyone talking.

During the April 2025 meeting in the Cabinet Room, Musk was photographed wearing a bright red baseball cap with the words “Gulf of America” printed on the front—a clear reference to President Donald Trump’s earlier move to rename the Gulf of Mexico. The cap closely resembled the well-known “Make America Great Again” hats, complete with “45 – 47” embroidered on it, a nod to Trump’s unusual back-to-back terms as the 45th and 47th president of the United States.

But the eye-catching red hat wasn’t the only surprise. Musk was also seen wearing a second hat—a black one underneath the red—before removing both when it was his turn to speak. The layered look instantly set social media ablaze. Video clips from the meeting quickly went viral, and within hours, “Double Hat Day” was trending across platforms.

Even Trump took notice, joking with Musk: “Elon, I love your double hat, by the way. He’s the only one who can get away with that.” Musk, never one to miss a chance at humor, smiled and replied: “Well, Mr. President, as they say, I wear a lot of hats. Even my hat wears a hat!”

While the moment provided some levity, not everyone was amused. Critics on social media questioned the appropriateness of Musk’s outfit for a formal government setting. “Does he even know there’s a dress code?” one user posted, while others joked that the double hat was “peak 2025 energy.”

However, the hats weren’t the only part of Musk’s appearance to draw scrutiny. Some viewers zoomed in on what appeared to be a scar or mark on the side of his neck, prompting speculation and concern. “Did Elon have surgery?” one X user wondered. Others speculated it might be a bandage from a biopsy or medical procedure, though no official comment has been made.

Still, the internet was more focused on the spectacle than the facts. Memes exploded. One user joked that Musk had “invented the hat version of a software update,” while another quipped: “I can only imagine the sound when he pulls the top hat off like a lid.”

This isn’t the first time Musk has brought flair—and controversy—to the White House. Back in February, he posted a photo of himself wearing an oversized red MAGA-style hat while standing with arms outstretched inside the Oval Office. The image circulated widely, drawing mixed reactions.

By March, questions about Musk’s consistent disregard for formal attire started surfacing in press briefings. When asked why the tech mogul wasn’t expected to follow the usual dress codes—especially after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy faced criticism for his own attire—White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt responded lightly, saying: “He did last night. I think the president liked it very much.”

To Musk’s defenders, the fuss over his clothes is beside the point. They see it as part of his larger brand—unconventional, disruptive, and unpredictable. “He’s not a politician,” one X commenter noted. “He’s a genius with a sense of humor.”

Others aren’t so sure. “He’s sitting at a cabinet meeting. Maybe show some respect?” read a more critical post. Some called the moment “cringe,” while others saw it as further blurring the line between politics, entertainment, and tech celebrity.

Despite the mixed reactions, there’s no denying that Musk once again managed to dominate the news cycle—this time with a fashion choice that said as much about personality as it did about politics. Whether you saw it as a statement, a joke, or just Elon being Elon, one thing’s for sure: everyone was talking about it.

And if history is any guide, he’ll be back in the headlines soon—perhaps this time with a hat on top of three.