During a recent interview with psychologist and conservative commentator Jordan Peterson, Tesla CEO Elon Musk expressed his belief that his estranged transgender daughter was “killed” by gender-affirming care. He vowed to combat what he sees as the “woke mind virus.”
Musk criticized gender-reassignment surgery, referring to it as “child mutilation and sterilization.” He revealed that his daughter, Vivian Jenna Wilson, began her transition during the pandemic after coming out as transgender at age 16. He mentioned feeling misled when signing documents related to her care, claiming that concerns about potential suicidal thoughts played a role in his decision-making.
He argued that such medical procedures are performed on individuals who are not yet of legal consent age and expressed agreement with Peterson’s view that promoting these practices is “incredibly evil” and should warrant imprisonment for advocates. Musk, a father of 12, also stated he was unaware that puberty blockers could lead to sterilization, despite evidence indicating that they do not directly affect fertility.
Musk lamented the loss of his son, suggesting that the term “deadnaming” reflects the profound impact of gender transition on familial relationships. His comments surfaced shortly after he announced plans for X and SpaceX to relocate to Texas, influenced by California’s AB1955, a law that restricts parental notifications regarding transgender identification in schools.
His daughter had previously sought a name change and new birth certificate, indicating a desire to sever ties with Musk. He has attributed the estrangement to the influence of her progressive school, as noted in a biography by Walter Isaacson, which claims that his relationship with Wilson has fueled Musk’s anti-woke ideologies.
In recent years, Musk has shifted from center-left politics to aligning more with right-wing views on various issues, including diversity, election integrity, and immigration. He recently endorsed the Republican presidential candidates Donald Trump and J.D. Vance, both supporters of the oil industry and critics of clean energy initiatives.