Tesla CEO Elon Musk recently made headlines for controversial remarks regarding his transgender daughter, Vivian Jenna Wilson, claiming she was “killed” after receiving gender-affirming care. During an interview with psychologist and conservative commentator Jordan Peterson, Musk expressed a commitment to combat what he calls the “woke mind virus.”
In the interview, Musk characterized gender-reassignment surgery as “child mutilation and sterilization,” sharing that his daughter began receiving gender-affirming care during the pandemic when she came out as transgender at the age of 16. He described feeling misled when he signed documents regarding her care, claiming there was pressure to act on concerns about her mental health.
Musk stated that the process is harming children below the legal age of consent and echoed Peterson’s view that promoting such procedures is “incredibly evil,” suggesting that those involved should face imprisonment. Moreover, he claimed that he was not adequately informed about the implications of puberty blockers, asserting they are sterilization drugs, despite evidence showing that puberty blockers do not impact fertility.
Musk’s comments follow his announcement that his companies, including Tesla and SpaceX, will relocate to Texas in response to California’s AB1955, legislation aimed at supporting transgender youth. This decision has drawn criticisms given Musk’s history of accusations regarding transphobia and anti-trans sentiments.
In 2022, his daughter sought a name change and a new birth certificate, expressing a desire to sever ties with her father completely. Musk has attributed the rift in their relationship to her progressive education in Los Angeles, with some suggesting that his estrangement from Wilson influences his pronounced anti-woke views.
Once known for centrist political views, Musk has increasingly aligned with right-wing rhetoric on various issues, including diversity policies and immigration, and recently endorsed the Republican presidential efforts of former President Donald Trump and Ohio Senator J.D. Vance.