Tesla CEO Elon Musk has made controversial statements regarding gender-affirming care following his estranged transgender daughter’s transition. In a recent interview with psychologist Jordan Peterson, Musk claimed that his daughter was “killed” by the care she received and expressed his intention to combat what he termed the “woke mind virus.”
During the interview, Musk criticized gender-reassignment surgery, referring to it as “child mutilation and sterilization.” He revealed that his daughter, Vivian Jenna Wilson, came out as transgender at the age of 16 after receiving gender-affirming treatment during the pandemic. Musk conveyed that he felt misled into consenting to treatment for his child, stating, “I was essentially tricked into signing documents for one of my older boys,” and expressed concerns over the potential risk of suicide that led to these decisions.
Musk asserted that procedures were conducted on children who are too young to provide consent, supporting Peterson’s view that such actions are “incredibly evil” and suggested that those who promote these practices should face imprisonment. He also claimed he was unaware that puberty blockers were effectively sterilization medications, although research indicates that they do not impact fertility directly.
Furthermore, Musk expressed deep personal distress, claiming, “I lost my son, essentially” and criticized the term “deadnaming,” which he believes reflects the loss of his son to the process of transitioning.
These remarks come shortly after Musk announced his decision for X and SpaceX to relocate to Texas, driven partly by California’s AB1955 legislation, which restricts parental notification requirements regarding a child’s gender identity. Musk has faced accusations of transphobia in the past and has stated that his strained relationship with his daughter stems from her progressive education.
In recent years, Musk has shifted from his previous center-left political stance to adopt more right-wing views, opposing several policies related to diversity and supporting candidates like Donald Trump.