Tesla CEO Elon Musk recently expressed his controversial views regarding gender-affirming care during an interview with psychologist and commentator Jordan Peterson. Musk claimed that his estranged transgender daughter, Vivian Jenna Wilson, was “killed” by the care she received, labeling gender-reassignment surgery as “child mutilation and sterilization.” He revealed that Wilson came out as trans at the age of 16 after undergoing gender-affirming care during the pandemic.
Musk recalled feeling misled when he signed documents concerning Wilson’s care, noting that he was under pressure due to the confusion surrounding COVID-19 at the time, with concerns for her mental health. He emphasized his belief that the treatment of children below the age of consent is “incredibly evil” and argued that anyone advocating for such measures should face imprisonment. Musk suggested he was not informed that puberty blockers could lead to sterilization, despite medical evidence showing they do not directly affect fertility.
In his remarks, Musk claimed he felt like he lost his son, saying, “The reason they call it ‘deadnaming’ is because your son is dead.” His statements came shortly after he announced plans for his companies to relocate to Texas, citing California’s AB1955, known as the SAFETY Act, which limits parental notification regarding a child’s transgender identity.
Vivian Jenna Wilson filed for a name change and a new birth certificate in 2022, expressing a desire to sever ties with Musk. He has attributed the strained relationship to her progressive school in Los Angeles, with biographer Walter Isaacson suggesting that this estrangement contributes to Musk’s “anti-woke” views.
Over the past few years, Musk has shifted from his previous center-left stance to embrace more right-wing ideologies, particularly on issues like diversity, election fraud, and immigration. Recently, he endorsed the Republican presidential ticket led by former President Donald Trump and Senator J.D. Vance, both of whom advocate for the oil industry and oppose clean energy initiatives.