Tesla CEO Elon Musk made controversial remarks during an interview with psychologist and conservative commentator Jordan Peterson, claiming that his transgender daughter was “killed” after undergoing gender-affirming care. Musk expressed his intention to “destroy the woke mind virus” in light of these issues.
Musk, who oversees multiple companies including X, referred to gender-reassignment surgery as “child mutilation and sterilization.” His daughter, Vivian Jenna Wilson, began her transition during the pandemic and publicly came out as transgender at the age of 16.
In the interview, Musk stated he felt misled when he signed documents concerning his older son, who now identifies as female. He described the confusion during the COVID pandemic, stating he was informed that his child might be at risk of suicide.
He criticized gender-affirming treatments provided to children below the age of consent and agreed with Peterson that it was “incredibly evil.” Musk asserted that he was not properly informed about puberty blockers, which he claimed negatively affected his ability to have children, though it is noted that puberty blockers do not inherently cause infertility.
Musk stated, “I was tricked into doing this. I lost my son, essentially,” referencing the term “deadnaming” and declaring that his son is “dead.”
These comments come shortly after Musk announced plans for his companies X and SpaceX to relocate to Texas, reacting to California’s AB1955, or the SAFETY Act, which prohibits schools from requiring parental notification if a child identifies as transgender and mandates resources for LGBTQ+ youth.
In 2022, Wilson sought a name change and new birth certificate, declaring in court she no longer wanted any connection to her biological father. Musk has attributed the strained relationship to her progressive school, and author Walter Isaacson described this estrangement as a factor in Musk’s rising anti-woke views.
Historically known for his moderate political stance, Musk has increasingly adopted right-wing rhetoric concerning issues like diversity initiatives, election integrity, and immigration. Recently, he endorsed the Republican presidential ticket featuring former President Donald Trump and Ohio Senator J.D. Vance, both known for their support of the oil industry and opposition to clean energy initiatives.