Tesla CEO Elon Musk recently made controversial remarks regarding his estranged transgender daughter, Vivian Jenna Wilson, during an interview with psychologist and conservative commentator Jordan Peterson. Musk claimed that Wilson was “killed” after receiving gender-affirming care, which prompted him to express his intention to “destroy the woke mind virus.” He referred to gender-reassignment surgery as “child mutilation and sterilization,” stating that he was misled into allowing his child to undergo such care during the pandemic.
Musk revealed that he believed his daughter, who came out as transgender at 16, was at risk of suicide, which influenced his decision to facilitate her care. He expressed regret over what he described as a lack of understanding of the implications of the decisions made regarding his child, claiming he was not informed that puberty blockers are essentially sterilization drugs, a statement that is not entirely accurate as these treatments do not directly affect fertility.
Musk criticized the practice of providing gender-affirming care to children below the age of consent, agreeing with Peterson that it is “incredibly evil” and asserting that activists promoting such measures should face imprisonment. He expressed a sense of loss regarding his relationship with Wilson, stating that the term “deadnaming” signifies that he feels he has lost his son.
These comments come shortly after Musk announced plans for his companies, including X and SpaceX, to relocate to Texas, partly in response to California legislation known as the SAFETY Act, which aims to support LGBTQ+ youth and prohibits schools from enforcing notifcation rules regarding a child’s gender identity. Musk has previously faced accusations of transphobia.
In a significant move in 2022, Wilson sought a name change and a new birth certificate, indicating a desire to sever ties with Musk. He has suggested that their estranged relationship is rooted in her progressive education. Over the past few years, Musk has shifted from center-left politics to embracing right-wing perspectives on various social issues, including endorsing the Republican presidential ticket for the upcoming elections.