Tesla CEO Elon Musk recently expressed distress over his estranged transgender daughter’s gender-affirming care, claiming it resulted in her being “killed.” During an interview with psychologist and conservative commentator Jordan Peterson, Musk vowed to combat what he terms the “woke mind virus.”
Musk, who oversees multiple companies including X, condemned gender-reassignment surgery as “child mutilation and sterilization.” He shared that his daughter, Vivian Jenna Wilson, came out as transgender at 16 and began receiving gender-affirming care during the pandemic. Musk indicated that he was misled into signing documents for her treatment due to concerns over her mental health, including fears that she might attempt suicide.
He emphasized his belief that such medical procedures are conducted on children who have not reached the legal age of consent, agreeing with Peterson’s assertion that promoting these treatments is “incredibly evil.” Musk also claimed he was unaware that puberty blockers, often associated with transgender care, could be considered sterilization drugs, although it is worth noting that puberty blockers themselves do not directly affect fertility.
“I was tricked into doing this,” Musk stated, indicating that the transition had left him feeling as though he lost his son. He described the concept of “deadnaming”—referring to his daughter by her birth name—as a reflection of that loss.
These remarks come shortly after Musk announced that his companies, including X and SpaceX, would relocate to Texas, partly in response to California’s AB1955 legislation. This law prohibits schools from enforcing rules that require parental notification if a child identifies as transgender and mandates the State Department to offer support resources for LGBTQ+ youth. Musk has faced accusations of transphobia in the past.
In 2022, Wilson sought a name change and a new birth certificate, stating in court that she wished to sever all ties with her biological father. Musk has attributed their estrangement to the influence of her progressive school in Los Angeles, which, according to biographer Walter Isaacson, has contributed to Musk’s growing “anti-woke” sentiments.
Musk’s political stance has shifted significantly in recent years, moving from center-left views to endorsing right-wing ideologies, including support for the Republican party’s presidential candidates, former President Donald Trump and Senator J.D. Vance.