Tesla CEO Elon Musk recently made controversial remarks regarding his transgender daughter, stating she was “killed” after receiving gender-affirming care. During an interview with psychologist and conservative commentator Jordan Peterson, Musk expressed his intention to “destroy the woke mind virus” and described gender-reassignment surgery as “child mutilation and sterilization.”
Musk claimed that his daughter, Vivian Jenna Wilson, received gender-affirming treatment during the pandemic, coming out as trans at the age of 16. He shared that he felt misled into signing documents related to her care, explaining that he had limited knowledge of the situation at that time and was concerned for her well-being amid fears of suicide.
He criticized the practice of administering such treatments to minors, aligning with Peterson’s view that it is “incredibly evil,” and asserted that advocates of such practices should face imprisonment. Musk stated he was not made aware that puberty blockers could be considered sterilization drugs, despite research suggesting that they don’t directly affect fertility.
Musk described his experience as feeling he had lost his son, referring to the concept of “deadnaming,” which he believes indicates the death of his previous relationship with his child. His comments follow a recent decision to relocate Tesla and his other companies to Texas, citing California legislation that impacts parental notification concerning transgender identification among minors.
In 2022, Musk’s daughter applied for a legal name change, indicating her desire to sever ties with her father. Musk has attributed the estrangement to her progressive education in Los Angeles and has been linked to anti-trans rhetoric. Over the past few years, Musk has shifted from center-left politics to adopt more right-wing views on various issues, recently endorsing the Republican presidential candidates Donald Trump and J.D. Vance.