Tesla’s CEO Elon Musk has made controversial remarks regarding his transgender daughter, Vivian Jenna Wilson, claiming that she was “killed” following her gender-affirming care. During an interview with psychologist and conservative figure Jordan Peterson, Musk expressed his intention to “destroy the woke mind virus” while labeling gender-reassignment surgery as “child mutilation and sterilization.” He stated that Wilson, who transitioned at age 16, received this care during the pandemic.
Musk recounted feeling misled into signing documents for Wilson, who has since chosen to drop her father’s surname. He noted that this period was filled with confusion due to the pandemic and that he had been warned about potential suicidal tendencies. He described the procedures as being applied to children who are below the age of consent, aligning with Peterson’s assertion that promoting such care is “incredibly evil” and warrants imprisonment.
Musk criticized the use of puberty blockers as not being clearly communicated to him, claiming they effectively serve as sterilization drugs, despite puberty blockers not directly affecting fertility on their own. He expressed a sense of loss regarding Wilson, stating, “I lost my son, essentially,” and discussed the concept of “deadnaming.”
His comments surfaced shortly after he announced plans for his companies, including X and SpaceX, to relocate to Texas, partly motivated by California’s legislation, AB1955, which restricts parental notification if a child identifies as transgender and emphasizes support for LGBTQ+ youth. Musk has faced accusations of transphobia and promoting anti-trans rhetoric.
Wilson applied for a name change in 2022, expressing a desire to be estranged from her father. Musk has attributed their fractured relationship to the progressive environment of her school in Los Angeles, suggesting it has influenced his daughter’s views, fueling his own “anti-woke” sentiments.
In recent times, Musk’s political stance has shifted significantly from center-left to aligning more with right-wing ideologies, encompassing various issues from diversity policies to election integrity and immigration. This month, he endorsed the Republican presidential candidacy of Donald Trump and Senator J.D. Vance, both of whom support traditional fossil fuel industries while opposing clean energy initiatives.