Tesla CEO Elon Musk has claimed that his estranged transgender daughter was “killed” after receiving gender-affirming care, an event that spurred him to vow to “destroy the woke mind virus.”
Musk made these remarks during an interview with psychologist and conservative commentator Jordan Peterson. Describing gender-reassignment surgery as “child mutilation and sterilization,” Musk said his daughter, Vivian Jenna Wilson, received gender-affirming care during the pandemic and came out as transgender at the age of 16.
“I was essentially tricked into signing documents for one of my older boys,” Musk said, referencing Wilson, who has changed her last name. He recounted being unaware of the situation’s specifics amid the COVID-19 pandemic and being told that Wilson might commit suicide without the care.
Musk argued that the procedures are performed on children “far below the age of consent” and labeled the practice as “incredibly evil,” agreeing with Peterson’s stance that those promoting it should face imprisonment. Musk, a father of 12, also alleged he was not informed that puberty blockers, which he called “sterilization drugs,” were involved, despite these drugs not affecting fertility on their own.
Musk said, “I was tricked into doing this. I lost my son, essentially. They call it ‘deadnaming’ for a reason. The reason they call it ‘deadnaming’ is because your son is dead.”
These comments come shortly after Musk announced plans to move X and SpaceX to Texas alongside Tesla, citing California’s AB1955, or the SAFETY Act, which prevents schools from notifying parents if their child identifies as transgender and aims to provide resources to support LGBTQ+ children. Musk has faced accusations of transphobia and anti-trans messaging in the past.
Musk’s daughter applied for a legal name change and new birth certificate in 2022, stating she no longer wanted to be related to her biological father. Musk has attributed their strained relationship to the influence of her progressive Los Angeles school, as noted in Walter Isaacson’s biography. According to Isaacson, this estrangement contributes to Musk’s “anti-woke sentiments.”
In recent years, Musk has shifted from center-left politics to endorsing right-wing viewpoints on topics such as diversity initiatives, election fraud, and immigration. Earlier this month, he endorsed the Republican presidential ticket of former President Donald Trump and Ohio Senator J.D. Vance, both proponents of the oil industry and opponents of clean energy initiatives.