Tesla CEO Elon Musk claimed that his estranged transgender daughter was “killed” after receiving gender-affirming care, leading him to express a desire to “destroy the woke mind virus.” These remarks were made during an interview broadcast Monday with psychologist and conservative commentator Jordan Peterson.
Musk, who heads several companies including X, referred to gender-reassignment surgery as “child mutilation and sterilization.” He mentioned that his daughter, Vivian Jenna Wilson, came out as transgender at the age of 16 and received gender-affirming care during the pandemic.
He stated, “I was essentially tricked into signing documents for one of my older boys,” referring to Wilson, who has since dropped his last name. Musk recounted that he was not fully informed about the situation and was concerned for his child’s well-being amidst the pandemic’s chaos, claiming he was told Wilson might consider suicide.
Musk criticized the medical transition process for children, voicing his agreement with Peterson that it is “incredibly evil.” He called for those who promote such medical practices to be imprisoned. Musk, a father of 12, also asserted that he was never made aware that puberty blockers are “actually just sterilization drugs,” despite the fact that puberty blockers do not impact fertility on their own.
Musk expressed that the experience left him feeling as if he lost his son, stating, “They call it ‘deadnaming’ for a reason. The reason they call it ‘deadnaming’ is because your son is dead.”
His comments come shortly after announcing that his companies X and SpaceX would relocate to Texas, following California’s AB1955, known as the SAFETY Act, which restricts schools from enforcing parental notification policies regarding transgender identification and mandates state resources for LGBTQ+ children. Musk has faced accusations of transphobia related to his comments in the past.
In 2022, Wilson sought a name change and a new birth certificate, stating in court documents her desire to no longer be linked to her biological father. Musk attributed the estrangement to Wilson’s progressive education in Los Angeles, as noted in Walter Isaacson’s biography of Musk, who suggested that this strained relationship influences Musk’s “anti-woke sentiments.”
Over recent years, Musk has shifted from center-left political views to adopt more right-wing rhetoric on various issues, including diversity, election fraud, and immigration. Earlier this month, he publicly 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.