Tesla CEO Elon Musk claimed his estranged transgender daughter was “killed” after receiving gender-affirming care, leading him to express intentions to combat what he calls the “woke mind virus.”
During an interview with psychologist and conservative commentator Jordan Peterson, Musk criticized gender-reassignment surgery, referring to it as “child mutilation and sterilization.” He shared that his daughter, Vivian Jenna Wilson, transitioned during the pandemic at the age of 16 and he felt misled into consenting to her care amid COVID-19 confusion.
“I was essentially tricked into signing documents for one of my older boys,” Musk stated, indicating that he was concerned for his child’s mental health, fearing suicide. He expressed strong opposition to gender-affirming procedures for minors “who are far below the age of consent,” aligning himself with Peterson’s assertion that such practices are “incredibly evil” and should lead to imprisonment for promoters.
Musk also lamented that he was unaware that puberty blockers were, in effect, sterilization methods, although he noted that they do not affect fertility on their own. “I was tricked into doing this,” he lamented. “I lost my son, essentially. The term ‘deadnaming’ highlights that your son is gone.”
His remarks surfaced shortly after he announced plans for X and SpaceX to relocate to Texas in response to California’s AB1955, or the SAFETY Act, which prohibits schools from requiring parental notification if a child identifies as transgender. Musk has faced allegations of transphobia and promoting anti-trans messaging in the past.
In 2022, Wilson sought a name change and a new birth certificate, stating in court documents that she no longer wished to be associated with her biological father. Musk attributed their strained relationship to her progressive school in Los Angeles, suggesting that this dynamic influenced his “anti-woke sentiments.”
Over recent years, Musk, previously identified as center-left, has increasingly embraced right-wing rhetoric on various issues, including diversity initiatives, election integrity, and immigration. Earlier this month, he voiced his support for the Republican presidential candidacy of former President Donald Trump and Ohio Senator J.D. Vance, both of whom advocate for the oil industry and oppose clean energy policies.