Tesla CEO Elon Musk recently claimed that his estranged transgender daughter was “killed” due to the gender-affirming care she received, expressing a commitment to “destroy the woke mind virus.”
Musk made these statements during an interview with psychologist and conservative commentator Jordan Peterson, which aired on Monday. He described gender-reassignment surgery as “child mutilation and sterilization.” Musk’s daughter, Vivian Jenna Wilson, came out as transgender at age 16 and received gender-affirming care during the pandemic.
“I was essentially tricked into signing documents for one of my older boys,” Musk said, alluding to Wilson, who has since distanced herself from her father’s name. He noted that the decision was made amidst the chaos of the pandemic and concerns about potential suicidal thoughts.
He stated that procedures are being administered to minors “far below the age of consent” and echoed Peterson’s belief that promoting such measures is “incredibly evil,” calling for imprisonment for those who support it. Musk, who has twelve children, also claimed that he was unaware that puberty blockers function as “sterilization drugs,” despite the fact that these blockers do not impact fertility on their own.
“I was tricked into doing this… I lost my son, essentially,” Musk lamented. He referred to ‘deadnaming,’ explaining that it signifies that one’s son is effectively gone.
These remarks come shortly after Musk announced that X and SpaceX would join Tesla in relocating to Texas, partly due to California’s AB1955, the SAFETY Act. This legislation prohibits schools from requiring parental notification when a child identifies as transgender and mandates state resources for LGBTQ+ youth. Musk has faced accusations of transphobia and promoting anti-trans rhetoric in the past.
In 2022, his daughter sought a name change and a new birth certificate, indicating in court documents that she wished to sever ties with her biological father entirely. Musk has attributed the estrangement to Vivian’s progressive schooling in Los Angeles, as per Walter Isaacson’s biography of him. This strained relationship has been suggested to influence Musk’s “anti-woke sentiments.”
Having shifted from center-left to increasingly right-wing views, Musk has voiced opposition to diversity initiatives, election fraud, and immigration. Earlier this month, he expressed his support for the Republican presidential ticket of former President Donald Trump and Ohio Senator J.D. Vance, both of whom advocate for the oil industry and oppose clean energy initiatives.