Tesla CEO Elon Musk made a controversial statement regarding his transgender daughter during an interview with psychologist and conservative commentator Jordan Peterson. Musk claimed that his daughter, Vivian Jenna Wilson, was “killed” after undergoing gender-affirming care, which prompted him to express a desire to “destroy the woke mind virus.”
Musk described gender-reassignment surgery as “child mutilation and sterilization,” noting that his daughter came out as transgender at the age of 16 after receiving gender-affirming care during the pandemic. He mentioned feeling misled when he signed documents concerning his child, asserting that it happened before he fully understood the situation.
He expressed concern over children receiving such care before reaching the age of consent and aligned himself with Peterson’s view that promoting these practices is “incredibly evil,” suggesting that those who do should face imprisonment. Musk also indicated that he was not aware that puberty blockers, a treatment often associated with gender-affirming care, are effectively sterilization drugs.
Musk lamented the estrangement from his daughter, stating, “I lost my son, essentially,” and criticized the term “deadnaming,” which is used to describe the act of referring to a transgender individual by their birth name.
These remarks follow Musk’s announcement that X and SpaceX would be relocating to Texas, driven by opposition to California’s AB1955, or the SAFETY Act. This legislation prohibits schools from needing to inform parents if a child identifies as transgender and mandates state resources to support LGBTQ+ youth. Musk has previously faced accusations of transphobia and promoting anti-trans messaging.
In 2022, Wilson sought a name change, stating in court filings that she wished to sever ties with her biological father. Musk has attributed the disconnect with his daughter to her progressive education in Los Angeles, suggesting that this estrangement has influenced his “anti-woke” stance.
Over the past few years, Musk’s political views have shifted from center-left to increasingly supportive of right-wing ideologies, criticizing areas such as diversity initiatives and immigration. Recently, he endorsed the Republican presidential ticket led by former President Donald Trump and Ohio Senator J.D. Vance, who are both known for supporting the oil industry and opposing clean energy initiatives.