During an interview with psychologist and conservative commentator Jordan Peterson, Tesla CEO Elon Musk expressed distress over the gender-affirming care received by his estranged transgender daughter, Vivian Jenna Wilson. He claimed that this care resulted in his daughter being “killed,” leading him to declare a mission to “destroy the woke mind virus.”
Musk labeled gender-reassignment surgery as “child mutilation and sterilization” and indicated that his daughter began her transition at the age of 16 during the pandemic. He shared that he felt misled into signing documents concerning Wilson’s care, stating he was informed that his child might be at risk of suicide, which fueled his confusion during the COVID crisis.
The billionaire articulated that he believes these medical procedures are being performed on minors who do not possess the legal capacity to give consent. He echoed Peterson’s sentiment that promoting such practices is “incredibly evil,” advocating for imprisonment for those involved. Musk, who has twelve children, claimed he was never made aware that puberty blockers, often part of gender-affirming treatment, could be considered sterilization drugs, although they are not recognized to affect fertility.
He lamented the loss of his son due to the transition, explaining that the term “deadnaming” signifies the death of his son to him. His comments followed a recent announcement about relocating his companies, including Tesla and SpaceX, to Texas in response to the state’s legislation banning schools from informing parents when children identify as transgender.
Musk’s remarks come amid accusations of transphobia and anti-trans messaging directed at him. His relationship with his daughter has been strained, with Wilson seeking a name change in 2022 and expressing in court her desire to sever ties with Musk entirely. According to biographer Walter Isaacson, this estrangement may have influenced Musk’s increasing alignment with right-wing ideologies, moving away from his previously more centrist viewpoints. Recently, he endorsed the Republican presidential candidates, aligning himself with figures promoting the oil industry and opposing clean energy initiatives.