Tesla CEO Elon Musk made controversial remarks about his transgender daughter, claiming she was “killed” by the gender-affirming care she received, and vowing to “destroy the woke mind virus.” Musk shared these views during an interview with psychologist and conservative commentator Jordan Peterson.
In the discussion, Musk criticized gender-reassignment surgery, labeling it as “child mutilation and sterilization.” He revealed that his daughter, Vivian Jenna Wilson, who came out as transgender at the age of 16, received gender-affirming care during the pandemic. Musk expressed regret for having signed documents for Wilson when he did not fully understand the situation, citing a fear for her mental health amid COVID-19.
Musk stated that such medical procedures are performed on children who are below the age of consent and echoed Peterson’s sentiment that promoting these practices is “incredibly evil,” suggesting that proponents should face imprisonment. He also claimed that he was not properly informed about the nature of puberty blockers, which he described as “sterilization drugs,” despite them not directly affecting fertility.
“I was tricked into doing this,” Musk lamented. He referred to Wilson’s name change and her desire to sever ties, stating, “the reason they call it ‘deadnaming’ is because your son is dead.”
His remarks followed an announcement that X and SpaceX would move to Texas in response to California’s SAFETY Act, which prohibits schools from requiring parental notification if a child identifies as transgender. Musk has faced accusations of transphobia and anti-trans messaging in the past.
In court documents from 2022, Wilson expressed her desire to change her name and birth certificate to distance herself from her father. Musk has attributed their estrangement to what he describes as her progressive school environment.
Over the years, Musk’s political stance has shifted significantly to the right, moving away from his previous center-left views. He has recently endorsed the GOP presidential ticket, including former President Donald Trump and Ohio Senator J.D. Vance, both of whom support traditional fossil fuel industries and oppose clean energy initiatives.