Tesla CEO Elon Musk has made controversial remarks regarding his estranged transgender daughter, claiming she was “killed” after undergoing gender-affirming care. Musk expressed his intent to combat what he referred to as the “woke mind virus” during a recent interview with psychologist and conservative commentator Jordan Peterson.
Musk criticized gender-reassignment surgery, labeling it as “child mutilation and sterilization.” He stated that his daughter, Vivian Jenna Wilson, who publicly came out as transgender at the age of 16, received gender-affirming care during the COVID-19 pandemic. Musk mentioned feeling misled into signing documents concerning Wilson, now known by a different surname, citing confusion during the pandemic and concerns over her mental health.
He emphasized his belief that such medical procedures are performed on children who are not of legal consent age, agreeing with Peterson’s assertion that promoting these practices is “incredibly evil” and should result in imprisonment. Despite having 12 children and frequently discussing issues related to fertility and population, Musk claimed he was unaware that puberty blockers could act as sterilization drugs, although these drugs alone do not impact fertility.
Musk stated, “I was tricked into doing this. I lost my son, essentially,” referencing the concept of “deadnaming,” which he argued symbolizes a loss of identity.
These statements come on the heels of Musk’s announcement that his companies, including X and SpaceX, would relocate from California to Texas in response to the state’s legislation known as AB1955, which limits parental notification regarding transgender identification in schools and mandates state support for LGBTQ+ youth. Musk has faced allegations of promoting transphobia and anti-trans sentiments in the past.
In 2022, his daughter sought a name change and a new birth certificate, asserting that she does not wish to be connected to her biological father. Musk has attributed their strained relationship to the influence of her progressive school, as noted in Walter Isaacson’s biography, which suggests that his sentiments against “woke” ideologies are tied to his fractured relationship with Wilson.
Over the past few years, Musk has shifted from his previously moderate political stance to adopting more right-leaning views, particularly on issues like diversity, election integrity, and immigration. Recently, he expressed support for the Republican presidential candidates, including former President Donald Trump and Ohio Senator J.D. Vance, both of whom advocate for the oil industry and oppose clean energy initiatives.