Tesla CEO Elon Musk recently made controversial statements regarding his estranged transgender daughter, claiming she was “killed” after receiving gender-affirming care. During an interview with psychologist and conservative commentator Jordan Peterson, Musk expressed his intention to “destroy the woke mind virus” and labeled gender-reassignment surgery as “child mutilation and sterilization.”
Musk revealed that his daughter, Vivian Jenna Wilson, came out as transgender at the age of 16 and received gender-affirming care during the pandemic. He mentioned feeling misled into signing documents for his child and stated that he was alarmed during that time that his child might be at risk of suicide.
He criticized the practice of providing such care to minors, asserting that it occurs without proper understanding or consent, and claimed that anyone who promotes it should face imprisonment. Musk, who has a total of 12 children, expressed that puberty blockers were not explained to him as being akin to sterilization drugs.
Musk described the effect of his daughter’s transition on him, stating, “I lost my son, essentially,” while referring to the term “deadnaming,” which indicates the loss of his son’s identity.
His comments come shortly after he announced plans for his companies, including X and SpaceX, to relocate to Texas in response to California’s legislation, known as AB1955 or the SAFETY Act, which affects parental notification for transgender identification in schools.
Musk’s daughter legally changed her name and birth certificate in 2022, stating her desire to no longer be related to him. His estrangement from her has been tied to his evolving political views, increasingly aligning with right-wing perspectives.
In recent years, Musk has shifted away from his previously more centrist political stance, now often advocating for conservative ideas on a range of topics including diversity, election fraud, and immigration. He has also recently endorsed the Republican presidential candidates, including former President Donald Trump.