Tesla CEO Elon Musk recently made controversial statements regarding his estranged transgender daughter, whom he claims was “killed” after receiving gender-affirming care. During an interview with psychologist and conservative commentator Jordan Peterson, Musk expressed his determination to “destroy the woke mind virus.”
Musk characterized gender-reassignment surgery as “child mutilation and sterilization,” alleging that his daughter, Vivian Jenna Wilson, received gender-affirming care during the COVID-19 pandemic when she was 16. He noted that he felt misled into signing documents concerning Wilson’s transition before fully understanding the implications, especially given the confusion surrounding the pandemic.
He criticized the treatment of children who are below the age of consent, agreeing with Peterson that it is “incredibly evil” and argued that those promoting such practices should face imprisonment. Musk further asserted that he was never informed that puberty blockers could lead to sterilization, emphasizing that puberty blockers in isolation do not affect fertility.
Musk claimed, “I was tricked into doing this. I lost my son, essentially,” referring to the concept of “deadnaming” and suggesting that his son no longer exists. His remarks come just days after announcing that companies like X and SpaceX would move to Texas in response to California’s SAFETY Act, which restricts parental notification when a child identifies as transgender and mandates resources for LGBTQ+ children.
Musk’s relationship with his daughter has deteriorated to the point where she sought a name change and a new birth certificate to distance herself from him. He has attributed their estrangement to the influence of her progressive school in Los Angeles. As Musk shifts away from his previously center-left views, he has embraced right-leaning perspectives on various political issues, including diversity, election integrity, and immigration. Recently, he endorsed the Republican presidential ticket featuring former President Donald Trump and Ohio Senator J.D. Vance.