Tesla CEO Elon Musk expressed his strong opposition to gender-affirming care during an interview with psychologist and conservative commentator Jordan Peterson, claiming it harmed his transgender daughter. Musk referred to gender-reassignment surgery as “child mutilation and sterilization” and stated that his daughter, Vivian Jenna Wilson, underwent such care during the pandemic after coming out as transgender at the age of 16.
Musk revealed that he feels he was misled into supporting his child’s transition, mentioning that he had to sign documents without fully understanding the implications due to the confusion of the COVID-19 pandemic. He mentioned that he was told his child might be at risk of suicide, which influenced his decision.
He criticized the treatment provided to children below the age of consent, agreeing with Peterson that it is “incredibly evil” and asserting that those who advocate for it should face imprisonment. Musk also claimed he was not informed that puberty blockers could act as sterilization drugs, despite their prevalence in discussions about transgender health.
Musk emphasized his feelings of loss regarding his relationship with his daughter, stating, “I lost my son, essentially,” and noted that the term “deadnaming” reflects this loss. His comments arose shortly after announcing that Tesla, along with his other companies, would relocate to Texas in response to California legislation regarding transgender youth.
In 2022, Wilson applied for a name change and a new birth certificate to sever ties with her biological father. Musk has attributed the estrangement partly to the progressive environment of Wilson’s school. Over time, Musk has shifted from a center-left political stance to embracing more right-wing views on various issues, including LGBTQ+ rights and energy policies. Recently, he endorsed the Republican party’s presidential candidates, signaling his alignment with conservative positions.