Tesla CEO Elon Musk has made controversial comments regarding his transgender daughter, alleging that she was “killed” after receiving gender-affirming care. During an interview with psychologist Jordan Peterson, Musk condemned gender-reassignment surgery, labeling it as “child mutilation and sterilization.” He stated that his daughter, Vivian Jenna Wilson, received this treatment during the pandemic and came out as transgender at age 16.
Musk expressed that he felt misled into signing documents regarding his daughter’s care, suggesting that he acted without fully understanding the implications of his actions, particularly during the confusion of the COVID pandemic. He mentioned being told that his child might be at risk of suicide, which contributed to his decision at the time.
He criticized the practice of administering gender-affirming care to minors and echoed Peterson’s sentiment that promoting such procedures is “incredibly evil” and called for those responsible to face imprisonment. Musk, who has a total of 12 children, claimed he was not adequately informed that puberty blockers are, in his view, effectively sterilization drugs, even though their use does not inherently affect fertility.
Musk lamented the estrangement from his daughter, stating, “I lost my son, essentially,” and commented on the term ‘deadnaming,’ asserting that it reflects the loss of his son’s identity.
These remarks from Musk come shortly after he announced that X (formerly Twitter) and SpaceX will join Tesla in relocating to Texas, citing concerns over California’s legislation concerning LGBTQ+ youth. Musk has faced accusations of promoting anti-trans sentiments previously.
In 2022, Wilson sought a name change and a new birth certificate, indicating that she wished to sever ties with her father. Musk has attributed the fallout in their relationship to the progressive environment of Wilson’s school in Los Angeles, suggesting that this has influenced her views. His evolving political stance, which has shifted from center-left to increasingly aligning with right-wing ideologies, has included criticisms of diversity initiatives and endorsements of conservative candidates.