Tesla CEO Elon Musk recently claimed that his estranged transgender daughter was “killed” after receiving gender-affirming care, prompting him to express a desire to “destroy the woke mind virus.”
Musk made these remarks during an interview with psychologist and conservative commentator Jordan Peterson, aired on Monday. He described gender-reassignment surgery as “child mutilation and sterilization,” referencing his daughter, Vivian Jenna Wilson, who came out as transgender at 16 and received gender-affirming care during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“I was essentially tricked into signing documents for one of my older boys,” Musk said, noting that Wilson, who no longer uses Musk’s last name, was involved in this process before he fully understood its implications. He mentioned that concerns about potential suicide were presented to him at that time.
Musk criticized the practice of gender-affirming treatments for children who are not of legal age, aligning himself with Peterson’s view that such practices are “incredibly evil” and should result in imprisonment for promoters. He expressed a belief that he was not informed that puberty blockers could be categorized as “sterilization drugs,” though it’s important to note that puberty blockers do not inherently affect fertility.
“I was tricked into doing this,” Musk stated. “I lost my son, essentially.” He emphasized the emotional weight of the term “deadnaming” in this context, suggesting it reflects a sense of loss regarding his relationship with his daughter.
These comments come shortly after Musk announced that X and SpaceX would relocate to Texas, citing California’s AB1955, also known as the SAFETY Act. This legislation prohibits schools from mandating notifications to parents when their child identifies as transgender and requires the state to provide resources for LGBTQ+ youth. Musk has previously faced accusations of transphobia and promoting anti-trans rhetoric.
In 2022, Musk’s daughter legally changed her name and sought a new birth certificate, stating in court documents her desire to sever ties with her biological father. Musk has attributed their strained relationship to her progressive education in Los Angeles, a situation highlighted in Walter Isaacson’s biography of him, which suggests that this estrangement has influenced Musk’s “anti-woke sentiments.”
In recent years, Musk has moved away from his once center-left political stances, increasingly adopting right-wing viewpoints on various issues, including diversity, election integrity, and immigration. Earlier this month, he endorsed the Republican presidential candidacy of former president Donald Trump and Ohio Senator J.D. Vance, both known for their support of the oil industry and opposition to clean energy initiatives.