In the realm of the extremely wealthy and influential, even minor gestures can hold significant symbolic importance. For Ashley St. Clair, the conservative influencer entwined in one of Elon Musk’s most contentious personal affairs, no emblem has been more impactful—or more haunting—than a solitary black hat.
This was not merely any hat, but one imbued with personal significance, presented during a moment of unusual affection and political alignment. It served as her token of love to Musk: the now-infamous ‘Dark MAGA’ hat.
At that moment, it appeared to be a whimsical, intimate exchange between two individuals deeply involved in their personal narrative and the political landscape of America. Elon Musk, a billionaire and tech mogul, who has been dubbed Donald Trump’s ‘First Buddy,’ was openly advocating for Trump’s return to the presidency.
The man who once expressed a desire to colonize Mars now seemed intent on transforming America—politically, ideologically, and demographically, including through what Ashley would later refer to as a ‘kid legion.’
During the initial phase of their relationship, Musk donned the black MAGA hat designed by St. Clair at various campaign events, rallies, and public appearances, which garnered significant media attention and energized Trump supporters.
However, beneath this public display lay a deeply personal significance: the hat was a gift from Ashley, intended not merely for wear but to convey meaning. She now expresses that it ‘haunts her every day.’ St. Clair, who recently disclosed the birth of Musk’s fourteenth known child—a son named Romulus—once viewed the hat as a cherished reminder of their bond.
Unfortunately, that bond has since deteriorated into secrecy, legal disputes, and emotional distress. She now perceives the hat not as a token of love, but as a symbol of betrayal, denial, and a fractured identity.
While Musk continued to sport the hat as a visual emblem of political defiance, Ashley observed from the periphery—first pregnant, then silenced, and ultimately forsaken. The gothic-style hat made its debut in October 2024, when Musk attended a Trump rally in Butler, Pennsylvania—just months following an assassination attempt on the president.
Rather than the conventional red MAGA cap, Musk wore Ashley’s design: a black variant he referred to as ‘Dark MAGA.’ This phrase, initially a meme circulated among Trump’s most fervent supporters, swiftly evolved into both a literal and metaphorical embodiment of Musk’s alignment with authoritarian tendencies and digital dystopias.
While the audience erupted in approval, Ashley remained in the background, unseen and expecting.
Despite the numerous contracts, custody disputes, DNA examinations, and media revelations, it is the hat that persistently troubles her. She recalls presenting it to him, the sense of pride it instilled in her. She remembers him donning it with a smile. She reflects on the moment when she felt, for the first time, that she was more than just another name in his texts. She had created something he opted to wear.
Every time she encounters it in a news segment or at a campaign rally, the pain of that memory resurfaces. A present, once filled with optimism, is now enveloped in remorse.
As for Elon Musk, he has chosen to remain silent, except for a single laughing emoji.
Occasionally, it is not the significant betrayals that inflict the most profound injuries. Rather, it can be something as simple as a hat.
