Tesla CEO Elon Musk has made controversial remarks regarding his transgender daughter, claiming she was “killed” after receiving gender-affirming care. In an interview with psychologist and conservative commentator Jordan Peterson, Musk expressed his desire to “destroy the woke mind virus” while discussing his views on gender-reassignment surgery, which he referred to as “child mutilation and sterilization.”
Musk stated that his daughter, Vivian Jenna Wilson, came out as transgender at the age of 16 and received gender-affirming care during the pandemic. He expressed regret over signing documents related to her transition, mentioning that he felt misled during a time when information was scarce due to COVID-19. Musk implied that he was convinced to support the treatment due to concerns about Wilson’s mental health, alleging he was told she might commit suicide.
During the discussion, Musk criticized the practice of providing such care to children below the age of consent, stating that he and Peterson agree it is “incredibly evil” and that promoters of such treatments should face imprisonment. Musk claimed he was unaware that puberty blockers are akin to sterilization drugs, although he acknowledged that they do not directly affect fertility.
Musk’s comments come on the heels of his announcement that his companies, X and SpaceX, will relocate to Texas, citing California’s AB1955, or the SAFETY Act, which protects transgender youth in educational settings. He has faced accusations of transphobia and promoting anti-trans messaging in the past.
In 2022, Wilson sought a name change and a new birth certificate, stating in court documents her wish to sever ties with Musk. According to Walter Isaacson’s biography, Musk attributes their estranged relationship to the influence of her progressive school.
In recent years, Musk’s political stance has shifted from center-left to right-wing, and he has publicly endorsed the Republican presidential candidacy of Donald Trump and Senator J.D. Vance, both of whom support the oil industry and campaign against clean energy initiatives.