Tesla CEO Elon Musk stated that he feels his estranged transgender daughter was effectively “killed” after she underwent gender-affirming care, prompting him to declare his intention to “destroy the woke mind virus.”
During a recent interview with psychologist and conservative commentator Jordan Peterson, Musk referred to gender-reassignment surgery as “child mutilation and sterilization.” He mentioned his daughter, Vivian Jenna Wilson, who came out as transgender at 16 and received gender-affirming treatment during the pandemic.
“I was essentially tricked into signing documents for one of my older boys,” Musk said, referring to Wilson, who has since changed her last name. He expressed that this happened before he fully understood the situation, compounded by the chaos of the COVID pandemic, during which he felt pressured by concerns about his child’s mental health.
Musk criticized the medical practices related to gender transition for minors, asserting they are unethical and advocating for imprisonment for those who promote such procedures. He also claimed he was not informed that puberty blockers function as sterilization drugs. It is worth noting that puberty blockers do not independently affect fertility.
“I was tricked into doing this,” Musk continued. “I lost my son, essentially. They call it ‘deadnaming’ for a reason. The reason they call it ‘deadnaming’ is because your son is dead.”
His remarks come shortly after Musk announced that X and SpaceX would relocate to Texas, joining Tesla, in response to California’s AB1955, known as the SAFETY Act. This legislation restricts schools from requiring parental notification when a child identifies as transgender and mandates state resources for supporting LGBTQ+ children. Musk has faced allegations of transphobia and anti-trans messaging previously.
In 2022, Musk’s daughter applied for a name change and a new birth certificate, stating in court documents that she no longer wishes to have any connection to him. According to Walter Isaacson’s biography, Musk attributes the strained relationship with his daughter to her progressive school in Los Angeles and suggests that this has influenced his rise in anti-woke sentiments.
In recent years, Musk has shifted from his previously centrist political stance to adopt more right-wing positions on various issues, including diversity, election integrity, and immigration. He recently endorsed the Republican presidential ticket featuring former President Donald Trump and Ohio Senator J.D. Vance, both proponents of the oil industry and critics of clean energy initiatives.