Tesla CEO Elon Musk recently stated that he feels his estranged transgender daughter was “killed” after she underwent gender-affirming care, which prompted him to pledge to combat what he terms the “woke mind virus.”
Musk’s comments were made during a Monday interview with psychologist and conservative commentator Jordan Peterson. He criticized gender-reassignment surgery, calling it “child mutilation and sterilization.” His daughter, Vivian Jenna Wilson, began receiving gender-affirming care during the pandemic and publicly came out as trans at the age of 16.
“I was essentially tricked into signing documents for one of my older boys,” Musk mentioned, referring to Wilson, who has chosen to distance herself from his last name. He expressed that the decision occurred during a period of confusion due to COVID-19 and claims he was told that his child might be at risk of suicide.
Musk asserted that gender-affirming procedures are being performed on minors who are not of age to consent, aligning with Peterson’s view that it is “incredibly evil” and calling for legal consequences for those who promote such practices. He claimed that during the process, it was not made clear to him that puberty blockers act as “sterilization drugs,” although it is noted that puberty blockers in themselves do not inherently affect fertility.
“I was tricked into doing this,” Musk lamented. “I lost my son, essentially. They call it ‘deadnaming’ for a reason. The reason they call it ‘deadnaming’ is because your son is dead.”
These comments follow Musk’s recent decision to relocate X and SpaceX operations to Texas, in response to California’s AB1955, the SAFETY Act. This law prohibits schools from requiring parental notification if a child identifies as transgender and mandates the State Department to provide resources for LGBTQ+ youth. Musk has faced accusations in the past for promoting anti-trans sentiments.
In 2022, Wilson sought a legal name change and a new birth certificate, stating she no longer wishes to be associated with her biological father. Musk has attributed the estrangement to her progressive school in Los Angeles, as noted in Walter Isaacson’s biography, suggesting that their strained relationship has influenced Musk’s outspoken “anti-woke” views.
Over recent years, Musk, who previously held centrist views, has increasingly embraced right-wing perspectives, including those related to diversity, election integrity, and immigration. Earlier this month, he endorsed the Republican ticket led by former President Donald Trump and Ohio Senator J.D. Vance, both of whom advocate for the oil industry and oppose clean energy initiatives.