Tesla CEO Elon Musk recently 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 a desire to “destroy the woke mind virus,” emphasizing his opposition to gender-reassignment surgeries, which he referred to as “child mutilation and sterilization.”
Musk’s comments came to light as he discussed his daughter, Vivian Jenna Wilson, who transitioned at the age of 16 and received gender-affirming care during the COVID-19 pandemic. He conveyed feelings of being misled when he signed documents related to his child’s care, asserting he was concerned about her potential for suicide at the time.
He criticized the gender-affirming process for children, stating that it is done to those “far below the age of consent,” and echoed Peterson’s sentiments by labeling it “incredibly evil.” Musk claimed that he was unaware that puberty blockers, often prescribed to transgender youth, could act as sterilization drugs, although it is widely known that puberty blockers themselves do not directly cause infertility.
Musk expressed regret, stating, “I was tricked into doing this. I lost my son, essentially,” alluding to the concept of “deadnaming,” which refers to the use of a transgender person’s birth name after they have transitioned.
These remarks from Musk emerged shortly after he declared that his companies, including X and SpaceX, would relocate to Texas, citing concerns over California’s AB1955, or the SAFETY Act. This legislation forbids schools from mandating parental notification if a child identifies as transgender and ensures state resources are available for LGBTQ+ youth. Musk has faced accusations of promoting anti-trans viewpoints in the past.
In 2022, Musk’s daughter sought a name change and new birth certificate, explicitly stating her desire to sever ties with her father. According to Walter Isaacson’s biography of Musk, the strained relationship with Wilson has influenced his anti-woke rhetoric.
Historically known for more centrist views, Musk has increasingly aligned with conservative perspectives on various issues, including diversity initiatives and immigration. Recently, he endorsed the Republican presidential ticket of former president Donald Trump and Ohio Senator J.D. Vance, both proponents of the fossil fuel industry and critics of clean energy.