Tesla CEO Elon Musk stated in a recent interview that he feels his estranged transgender daughter was “killed” after receiving gender-affirming care, which led him to declare his intention to combat what he describes as the “woke mind virus.”
During an interview with psychologist and conservative commentator Jordan Peterson, Musk, who heads multiple companies including X, labeled gender-reassignment surgery as “child mutilation and sterilization.” He mentioned that his daughter, Vivian Jenna Wilson, received gender-affirming care during the pandemic and publicly came out as transgender at the age of 16.
Musk claimed he was “essentially tricked” into signing documents regarding his daughter’s care, explaining that this happened under confusing circumstances during the COVID pandemic, and he was warned that failing to proceed could result in her potentially committing suicide.
He criticized the procedures conducted on children who are under the legal age of consent and echoed Peterson’s view that promoting such care is “incredibly evil,” suggesting that advocates for it should face imprisonment. Musk also expressed that he was not informed that puberty blockers, which he claims were given to his child, function as sterilization drugs, despite the fact that puberty blockers alone do not directly affect fertility.
“I was tricked into doing this,” Musk remarked, expressing that he feels he has “lost” his son. He commented on the term “deadnaming,” stating that it signifies the loss of his child.
These statements by Musk follow his announcement that companies under his control, including X and SpaceX, would relocate to Texas in response to California’s AB1955, the SAFETY Act. This legislation prevents schools from requiring parental notification if a child identifies as transgender and mandates the State Department to provide support resources for LGBTQ+ children. Musk has faced accusations in the past regarding transphobia and anti-trans messaging.
In 2022, Musk’s daughter petitioned for a name change and new birth certificate, stating she wishes to sever all ties with her biological father. Musk has attributed the strained relationship with his daughter to her progressive school in Los Angeles, as discussed in Walter Isaacson’s biography, which suggests that the estrangement has fueled Musk’s anti-woke rhetoric.
In recent years, Musk, previously aligned with center-left politics, has increasingly adopted right-wing viewpoints on a range of issues, including diversity initiatives, election integrity, and immigration. He recently endorsed the Republican presidential ticket of former President Donald Trump and Ohio Senator J.D. Vance, both of whom support fossil fuel industries and oppose clean energy.