Tesla CEO Elon Musk has made controversial remarks regarding his estranged transgender daughter, claiming she was “killed” following gender-affirming care. During an interview with psychologist and conservative commentator Jordan Peterson, Musk pledged to combat what he refers to as the “woke mind virus.”
Musk described gender-reassignment surgery as “child mutilation and sterilization” and disclosed that his daughter, Vivian Jenna Wilson, who came out as transgender at 16, received gender-affirming care during the pandemic. He expressed regret over signing documents associated with her transition, suggesting he was misled and influenced during a tumultuous period marked by COVID-19 concerns.
He criticized the practice of offering gender-affirming treatments to minors, stating it is “incredibly evil” and advocating for imprisonment of those who support it. Musk claimed he was not adequately informed that puberty blockers could function as sterilization drugs, despite evidence that they do not directly affect fertility.
In his comments, Musk articulated a sense of loss regarding his relationship with his daughter, saying, “I was tricked into doing this. I lost my son, essentially,” referencing the term “deadnaming” that indicates a person’s previous name following a gender transition.
These statements come shortly after Musk announced that his companies, including Tesla, would relocate to Texas from California, partly due to the state’s AB1955 legislation, which limits parental notification regarding children’s transgender identities and enhances support for LGBTQ+ youth. Musk has faced accusations of promoting anti-trans sentiments in the past.
In 2022, Wilson sought a legal name change, expressing her desire to sever ties with her father completely. Discussions around their relationship have been linked to Musk’s current anti-“woke” stance, as noted in Walter Isaacson’s biography.
Musk, who has shifted from center-left politics to more right-wing viewpoints, has recently endorsed the Republican presidential candidates, including former president Donald Trump.