Tesla CEO Elon Musk recently made controversial statements regarding his estranged transgender daughter, suggesting that she was “killed” after receiving gender-affirming care. He expressed a determination to “destroy the woke mind virus” during an interview with psychologist and conservative commentator Jordan Peterson.
Musk described gender-reassignment surgery as “child mutilation and sterilization,” referencing his daughter, Vivian Jenna Wilson, who identified as trans at the age of 16 and sought gender-affirming care during the pandemic. He mentioned feeling misled into signing documents concerning Wilson, stating that there was considerable confusion during the COVID crisis and concerns about her potential suicide.
He voiced strong objections to procedures conducted on minors “far below the age of consent,” aligning with Peterson in labeling the practice as “incredibly evil” and asserting that individuals promoting it should be imprisoned. Musk also claimed he was unaware that puberty blockers could act as sterilization drugs, though they do not directly impact fertility on their own.
“I was tricked into doing this,” Musk said, expressing a sense of loss over his son’s identity, highlighting the term “deadnaming” as indicative of that loss.
These remarks follow Musk’s recent announcement that X and SpaceX will relocate to Texas, motivated by California’s AB1955 legislation, which prohibits schools from requiring parental notification if a child identifies as transgender and mandates state resources for LGBTQ+ youth. Musk has faced accusations of transphobia and promoting anti-trans rhetoric in the past.
In court documents from 2022, Musk’s daughter sought a name change and new birth certificate, stating her wish to sever ties with her biological father. Musk has attributed his strained relationship with her to her progressive schooling.
In recent years, Musk’s political stance has shifted from center-left to increasingly right-wing, as he has embraced controversial themes surrounding diversity, election fraud, and immigration. Earlier this month, he publicly endorsed the Republican presidential ticket comprising former President Donald Trump and Ohio Senator J.D. Vance, both of whom are supporters of the oil industry and opponents of clean energy initiatives.