Tesla CEO Elon Musk recently claimed that his transgender daughter suffered irreparable harm after receiving gender-affirming care, which prompted him to express a desire to “destroy the woke mind virus.”
During an interview with psychologist and conservative commentator Jordan Peterson, Musk labeled gender-reassignment surgery as “child mutilation and sterilization,” discussing his daughter, Vivian Jenna Wilson, who came out as transgender at age 16. Musk stated that Wilson received gender-affirming care during the pandemic.
He recounted feeling misled about signing documents for Wilson, stating that this occurred amid the confusion of the COVID-19 crisis, during which he was informed that his child might be at risk of suicide. He expressed his belief that children who undergo such procedures are often below the age of consent, echoing Peterson’s view that the practice is “incredibly evil” and suggesting that advocates should face imprisonment.
Musk also claimed that he was not informed that puberty blockers operated as “sterilization drugs,” although it is noted that puberty blockers themselves do not inherently affect fertility. He lamented losing his son, stating, “They call it ‘deadnaming’ for a reason. The reason they call it ‘deadnaming’ is because your son is dead.”
These remarks come shortly after Musk announced that his companies X and SpaceX would relocate to Texas, citing California’s SAFETY Act, which prohibits schools from mandating parental notification if a child identifies as transgender and directs resources to support LGBTQ+ children. Musk has been previously criticized for his perceived transphobia and for promoting anti-trans rhetoric.
In 2022, Musk’s daughter petitioned for a name change and a new birth certificate, expressing she no longer wanted to be associated with her biological father. According to Walter Isaacson’s biography, Musk attributes the estrangement to Wilson’s progressive schooling in Los Angeles, linking it to his views that criticize “woke” culture.
Musk’s political stance has shifted over recent years from a center-left position to embracing right-wing ideologies on various issues, including diversity, election fraud, and immigration. Recently, he endorsed the Republican presidential ticket of former President Donald Trump and Ohio Senator J.D. Vance, both advocates of the oil industry and opponents of clean energy initiatives.