Tesla CEO Elon Musk recently stated that his estranged transgender daughter was “killed” after she received gender-affirming care, which prompted him to declare a mission to “destroy the woke mind virus.”
During an interview with psychologist and conservative commentator Jordan Peterson, Musk described gender-reassignment surgery as “child mutilation and sterilization.” He mentioned that his daughter, Vivian Jenna Wilson, underwent gender-affirming care during the pandemic and identified as transgender at the age of 16.
Musk claimed he was misled into signing documents concerning his child, referring to his daughter who no longer uses his last name. He expressed that this occurred before he fully grasped the situation and amid the confusion of the COVID pandemic, during which he was informed that his child might be at risk of suicide.
He criticized the practice of providing such care to minors “who are far below the age of consent” and aligned himself with Peterson in calling it “incredibly evil,” asserting that those who endorse it should face imprisonment. Although Musk has a total of 12 children and has frequently discussed issues like fertility and underpopulation, he also alleged he was not adequately informed that puberty blockers could be viewed as “sterilization drugs,” though such blockers alone do not impact fertility.
Musk lamented, “I was tricked into doing this,” noting that he felt he lost a son, as he pointed out the term “deadnaming” signifies that the previous identity has effectively ceased to exist.
These remarks from Musk come soon after he announced that his companies, including X and SpaceX, would be relocating to Texas in response to California’s AB1955, known as the SAFETY Act. This legislation restricts schools from mandating parent notifications if a child identifies as transgender and mandates state resources to aid LGBTQ+ youth. Musk has previously faced allegations of exhibiting transphobia and promoting anti-trans narratives.
In 2022, Musk’s daughter sought a name change and a new birth certificate, indicating in court that she no longer wishes to be connected to her biological father. Musk has attributed their estrangement to the progressive school she attended in Los Angeles, according to Walter Isaacson’s biography. Isaacson suggested that Musk’s strained relationship with Wilson has contributed to his “anti-woke” views.
Over recent years, Musk has shifted from his previously center-left political stance to embrace more right-wing perspectives on a variety of issues, including diversity policies, election integrity, and immigration. He also recently endorsed the Republican presidential ticket of former President Donald Trump and Ohio Senator J.D. Vance, both of whom are known proponents of the oil industry and critics of clean energy initiatives.