Tesla CEO Elon Musk recently expressed his views on gender-affirming care during an interview with psychologist and conservative commentator Jordan Peterson. Musk controversially stated that his estranged transgender daughter was “killed” by such care, which has prompted him to declare a mission to “destroy the woke mind virus.”
Musk’s comments were made during a broadcast on Monday, where he described gender-reassignment surgery as “child mutilation and sterilization.” He referenced his daughter, Vivian Jenna Wilson, who transitioned at the age of 16 and received gender-affirming treatment during the COVID-19 pandemic. Musk remarked that he felt misled into signing necessary documents for his daughter, who has chosen to no longer use his last name.
He expressed his belief that children, especially those below the age of consent, should not undergo these procedures, aligning himself with Peterson in deeming it “incredibly evil” and suggesting that promoters of such practices should face imprisonment. Musk also claimed ignorance about puberty blockers being essentially sterilization drugs, despite these medications not directly impacting fertility.
Musk stated, “I was tricked into doing this. I lost my son, essentially,” elaborating that the term “deadnaming” indicates a profound loss.
His remarks come shortly after his announcement that X and SpaceX would relocate to Texas, primarily due to California’s recent legislation, known as the AB1955 SAFETY Act, which prohibits schools from mandating parent notification when a child identifies as transgender. Musk has faced accusations of transphobia and anti-trans rhetoric in the past.
In 2022, Wilson applied to change her name and birth certificate, citing a desire to sever ties with her biological father. Musk has attributed their strained relationship to her progressive schooling in Los Angeles, which, according to biographer Walter Isaacson, has influenced Musk’s growing “anti-woke” sentiment. Over the years, Musk has shifted from his previously center-left politics to adopt more right-leaning views, including support for Republican figures like former President Donald Trump.