During a recent interview with psychologist and conservative commentator Jordan Peterson, Tesla CEO Elon Musk expressed his beliefs regarding gender-affirming care, stating that his estranged transgender daughter was “killed” by it. Musk described gender-reassignment surgery as “child mutilation and sterilization” and recounted how his daughter, Vivian Jenna Wilson, came out as transgender at the age of 16 after receiving care during the pandemic.
He remarked, “I was essentially tricked into signing documents for one of my older boys,” referencing Wilson, who has distanced herself from him. Musk indicated that he was influenced by concerns for her mental health at the time, claiming he was led to believe that she might commit suicide.
Musk criticized the process, suggesting that it targets children who are too young to give consent, and he agreed with Peterson’s assertion that it is “incredibly evil.” He further claimed that he was unaware that puberty blockers are effectively sterilization drugs, although such blockers do not directly impact fertility on their own.
“I lost my son, essentially. They call it ‘deadnaming’ for a reason. The reason they call it ‘deadnaming’ is because your son is dead,” Musk said.
His comments came shortly after he announced that his companies, X and SpaceX, would relocate to Texas, citing California’s AB1955, which prohibits schools from notifying parents if their child identifies as transgender and mandates state support for LGBTQ+ youth. Musk has faced accusations of transphobia in the past.
In 2022, Musk’s daughter sought a name change and new birth certificate, stating in court she wished to sever ties with him. Musk has attributed their strained relationship to her progressive school in Los Angeles, as noted in Walter Isaacson’s biography, which claims that the rift fuels Musk’s “anti-woke sentiments.”
In recent years, Musk has shifted from center-left views to adopt a more right-wing stance on issues like diversity initiatives and immigration. This month, he publicly endorsed the Republican presidential ticket of former President Donald Trump and Senator J.D. Vance, both known for their opposition to clean energy initiatives.