Tesla CEO Elon Musk stated during an interview that he feels his transgender daughter was “killed” after undergoing gender-affirming care, which led him to express a desire to combat what he terms the “woke mind virus.”
Musk’s comments came during a discussion with psychologist Jordan Peterson, where he criticized gender-reassignment surgery, referring to it as “child mutilation and sterilization.” He mentioned his daughter, Vivian Jenna Wilson, who came out as transgender at age 16, received such care during the pandemic.
He recounted feeling misled into consenting to treatment for Wilson, particularly under the challenging circumstances of COVID-19. Musk expressed regret, claiming that he was informed his child might be at risk of suicide if he did not support the transition. He criticized the treatment of minors and conveyed that he believes it is profoundly harmful, stating that anyone who advocates for it should face imprisonment.
Musk also reflected on the terminology surrounding transgender identity, stating that the concept of “deadnaming” signifies that his son is effectively gone. He voiced his belief that important information, such as the implications of puberty blockers, was not clearly explained to him.
His comments emerged shortly after announcing that his companies, including X and SpaceX, would relocate to Texas due to California’s legislation, which prohibits schools from informing parents when a child identifies as transgender.
Musk’s relationship with his daughter has been strained, highlighted by her court request in 2022 to change her name and birth certificate to dissociate from him. He attributes their disconnected relationship to the influence of her progressive education.
In recent years, Musk has shifted from center-left views to embracing right-wing perspectives, particularly regarding issues such as diversity, elections, and immigration. Recently, he endorsed the Republican presidential ticket featuring former President Donald Trump and Senator J.D. Vance.