Tesla CEO Elon Musk recently claimed that his transgender daughter was “killed” after receiving gender-affirming care, prompting him to express his intention to “destroy the woke mind virus.”
Musk made these remarks during an interview with psychologist and conservative commentator Jordan Peterson. He referred to gender-reassignment surgery as “child mutilation and sterilization.” His daughter, Vivian Jenna Wilson, who came out as transgender at 16, underwent gender-affirming care during the pandemic.
Musk expressed regret about signing documents concerning Wilson’s care, stating, “I was essentially tricked into signing documents for one of my older boys.” He mentioned the confusion surrounding the pandemic and concerns about his child’s mental health, including threats of suicide.
He criticized the process, emphasizing that it is often performed on children younger than the age of consent, and echoed Peterson’s sentiments regarding the morality of these procedures, suggesting that advocates for such treatments should face imprisonment. Musk, who has twelve children, indicated he was not informed that puberty blockers could be considered sterilization drugs, even though they do not impact fertility on their own.
In Musk’s view, he feels he has lost a son to this process, stating, “The reason they call it ‘deadnaming’ is because your son is dead.” His comments follow a recent announcement that X and SpaceX, along with Tesla, would relocate to Texas due to California’s AB1955, legislation related to transgender student rights and parental notification in schools. Musk has faced allegations of transphobia and promoting anti-trans narratives.
His daughter, in 2022, sought a name change and a new birth certificate, asserting she no longer wishes to be connected to Musk in any capacity. Musk attributes the estrangement to her progressive education in Los Angeles, as highlighted in Walter Isaacson’s biography, which also suggests that this dynamic influences Musk’s outspoken “anti-woke” stance.
Over the years, Musk has shifted from his previous centrist political views to align more with right-wing ideologies on topics such as diversity, election integrity, and immigration. Recently, he endorsed former President Donald Trump and Ohio Senator J.D. Vance, who both advocate for traditional energy sources and oppose clean energy initiatives.