Tesla CEO Elon Musk has made controversial remarks regarding his estranged transgender daughter, stating that she was “killed” after undergoing gender-affirming care. During an interview with psychologist and conservative commentator Jordan Peterson, Musk expressed his intent to “destroy the woke mind virus” and called gender-reassignment surgery “child mutilation and sterilization.”
Musk revealed that his daughter, Vivian Jenna Wilson, came out as transgender at the age of 16 and sought gender-affirming care during the pandemic. He asserted that he feels he was misled into consenting to medical procedures for his child, citing fears that his daughter might be suicidal at the time. Wilson has distanced herself from Musk, no longer using his surname.
He criticized the medical procedures performed on minors, labeling them as “incredibly evil” and advocated for severe penalties for those who promote such treatments. Musk also asserted that he was never informed that puberty blockers could act as sterilization drugs, although these treatments do not directly impact fertility.
Musk’s statements arrive shortly after he announced plans for X and SpaceX to relocate to Texas, in response to California’s AB1955 legislation, which prohibits schools from mandating parent notification when a child identifies as transgender. He has faced accusations of transphobia in the past.
In 2022, Wilson applied to change her name and obtain a new birth certificate, stating that she wishes to sever ties with her biological father entirely. Musk has attributed the breakdown of their relationship to Wilson’s education in a progressive school, claiming that it has influenced her attitudes and views.
Over recent years, Musk has shifted from his previously moderate political stance towards more right-wing views, commenting on various issues including diversity, election integrity, and immigration. In a recent endorsement, he supported the Republican presidential ticket, including former President Donald Trump.