Tesla CEO Elon Musk recently made controversial remarks regarding his estranged transgender daughter, claiming she was “killed” after receiving gender-affirming care. During an interview with psychologist and conservative commentator Jordan Peterson, aired on Monday, Musk expressed his intention to combat what he called the “woke mind virus” and criticized gender-reassignment surgery, labeling it as “child mutilation and sterilization.”
Musk’s daughter, Vivian Jenna Wilson, came out as transgender at the age of 16 and received gender-affirming care during the pandemic. Musk mentioned feeling deceived into signing necessary documents for his child at a time when he lacked understanding of the situation and was concerned about potential suicide risks.
He voiced strong opposition to gender-affirming treatments for minors, claiming they are applied to those “far below the age of consent,” and stated that he agrees with Peterson’s view that promoting such procedures is “incredibly evil” and should result in imprisonment. Musk, who is a father of 12, also expressed that he was not informed that puberty blockers could lead to sterilization, although such blockers alone do not directly impact fertility.
Musk expressed deep personal regret, stating, “I was tricked into doing this. I lost my son, essentially.” He referenced the term “deadnaming,” asserting it signifies that he feels he has lost his child.
These remarks emerged shortly after Musk announced that his companies, including X and SpaceX, would relocate to Texas due to California’s AB1955, also known as the SAFETY Act. This law prohibits schools from mandating parental notification if a child identifies as transgender and obligates the State Department to provide resources for LGBTQ+ youth. Musk has previously faced accusations of transphobia and anti-trans rhetoric.
In legal documents from 2022, Musk’s daughter sought a name change and new birth certificate, stating she no longer wishes to be associated with her father. Musk has attributed their estrangement to her progressive school environment in Los Angeles, a situation detailed in Walter Isaacson’s biography of the entrepreneur. This strained relationship has reportedly influenced Musk’s vocal opposition to progressive ideologies.
In recent times, Musk has shifted away from his previously centrist political stance, increasingly aligning with right-wing views on various issues, including diversity initiatives and immigration. Notably, he recently endorsed the Republican ticket led by former President Donald Trump and Ohio Senator J.D. Vance, both of whom advocate for the oil industry and oppose clean energy efforts.