Tesla CEO Elon Musk recently stated that he feels his estranged transgender daughter was “killed” after she received gender-affirming care, prompting him to express a desire to “destroy the woke mind virus.”
During an interview with psychologist and conservative figure Jordan Peterson, Musk referred to gender-reassignment surgery as “child mutilation and sterilization.” He said his daughter, Vivian Jenna Wilson, came out as transgender at the age of 16 and received gender-affirming care during the pandemic.
Musk shared that he felt misled into signing documents regarding Wilson’s transition, which he believed was necessary at the time due to concerns about her mental health amid the confusion of the COVID-19 pandemic. He asserted that children who undergo such procedures are often too young to give informed consent, agreeing with Peterson that it is “incredibly evil” to endorse such practices and suggesting that promoters should face imprisonment.
He claimed he was not adequately informed that puberty blockers might effectively serve as sterilization drugs, though it is noted that puberty blockers do not directly affect fertility. Musk lamented, “I was tricked into doing this. I lost my son, essentially,” and spoke of the significance of “deadnaming,” stating that it reflects the loss of one’s child.
Musk’s remarks follow his decision to relocate his companies, including X and SpaceX, to Texas in response to California’s AB1955, legislation aimed at protecting the rights of transgender students. Musk has faced criticism for allegedly promoting anti-transgender sentiments over the years.
In 2022, Wilson legally changed her name and sought a new birth certificate, stating in court documents that she no longer wished to be connected to her biological father. According to biographer Walter Isaacson, Musk attributes their troubled relationship to Wilson’s progressive education in Los Angeles and comments that this strained dynamic has influenced his perceptions towards “woke” culture.
Over recent years, Musk’s political stance has shifted from center-left to more right-leaning ideologies, openly supporting the Republican Party, including endorsements for former President Donald Trump and Ohio Senator J.D. Vance, both known for their opposition to clean energy initiatives.