Tesla CEO Elon Musk expressed a controversial view regarding his transgender daughter, Vivian Jenna Wilson, during an interview with psychologist and conservative commentator Jordan Peterson. Musk claimed that Wilson was “killed” after receiving gender-affirming care, asserting his resolve to “destroy the woke mind virus.”
During the interview, Musk referred to gender-reassignment surgery as “child mutilation and sterilization.” He mentioned that his daughter began identifying as transgender at the age of 16 and received gender-affirming care during the pandemic. Musk remarked that he felt misled into signing documents regarding her care, leading him to believe it was a matter of life and death.
Musk criticized the practice of administering such medical treatments to minors and echoed Peterson’s sentiment that it is “incredibly evil,” suggesting those who promote it should face imprisonment. He expressed confusion over the implications of puberty blockers, which he claims were not clearly explained to him, despite the fact that puberty blockers do not inherently affect fertility.
Musk expressed feelings of loss regarding his relationship with his daughter, noting the term “deadnaming” as indicative of his emotional pain. His comments come shortly after announcing that his companies, including X and SpaceX, would relocate to Texas, citing concerns over California’s recent legislation affecting parental notification for transgender identification in schools.
Vivian Jenna Wilson legally changed her name last year, stating in court that she wanted no connection to her biological father. Musk has attributed their strained relationship to her progressive school environment, suggesting it has influenced her views. In recent years, Musk has shifted from center-left to more right-wing positions, endorsing the Republican presidential ticket and aligning himself against issues like clean energy.