Tesla CEO Elon Musk has made controversial remarks regarding his estranged transgender daughter, claiming she was “killed” after undergoing gender-affirming care. During an interview with psychologist and conservative commentator Jordan Peterson, Musk expressed his intention to “destroy the woke mind virus.”
Musk referred to gender-reassignment surgery as “child mutilation and sterilization,” sharing that his daughter, Vivian Jenna Wilson, who publicly came out as transgender at age 16, received gender-affirming care amid the pandemic. He claimed he was misled into consenting to procedures for his child and expressed concern about the implications of such medical interventions on minors.
He stated, “I was essentially tricked into signing documents for one of my older boys,” adding that the situation was complicated by the COVID-19 pandemic and anxiety about potential self-harm. Musk further criticized the practice of prescribing puberty blockers to children, claiming he was not informed that these drugs could be considered sterilization.
Musk claimed, “I was tricked into doing this. I lost my son, essentially,” and pointed out that the term “deadnaming” reflects the sense of loss he feels regarding his daughter’s identity change.
These comments follow Musk’s announcement that several of his enterprises, including X and SpaceX, would relocate to Texas, partly in response to California’s AB1955 legislation that restricts parental notification regarding a child’s transgender identification. He has faced accusations of transphobia tied to his public statements and actions.
In 2022, his daughter petitioned for a name change, expressing she no longer wishes to be linked to Musk. His estrangement from Wilson has been suggested as a factor influencing his recent opposition to progressive views. Musk has shifted more towards right-wing viewpoints in recent years, publicly supporting Republicans and opposing initiatives related to diversity and clean energy.