Tesla CEO Elon Musk recently made controversial remarks regarding his estranged transgender daughter, claiming she was “killed” after receiving gender-affirming care. During an interview with psychologist and conservative commentator Jordan Peterson, Musk expressed his desire to “destroy the woke mind virus” and referred to gender-reassignment surgery as “child mutilation and sterilization.”
Musk’s daughter, Vivian Jenna Wilson, came out as transgender at the age of 16 and received gender-affirming care during the pandemic. Musk, who has stated he was “tricked” into signing documents related to his daughter’s care, emphasized that he was misled during a confusing time when concerns about her mental health were raised.
He criticized the process of providing care to children before they reach the age of consent and aligned with Peterson’s view that such actions are “incredibly evil,” suggesting that individuals promoting these practices should face imprisonment. Although Musk has mentioned having 12 children and has discussed issues of fertility, he claimed he was not informed that puberty blockers were similar to sterilization drugs, despite puberty blockers not directly affecting fertility.
Musk also expressed feelings of loss regarding his son, whom he believes is dead to him due to the name change associated with his daughter’s transition. This disclosure comes shortly after he announced plans for his companies, including X and SpaceX, to relocate to Texas, largely in response to California’s AB1955, legislation that prohibits schools from notifying parents if a child identifies as transgender.
In 2022, Wilson applied for a name change and requested a new birth certificate, noting that she did not want to be associated with her biological father. Musk has attributed the strained relationship with his daughter to the influence of her progressive school in Los Angeles, a narrative highlighted in Walter Isaacson’s biography of Musk.
Over the past few years, Musk has shifted from center-left political views to embrace more right-wing rhetoric, addressing topics such as diversity initiatives, election fraud, and immigration. Earlier this month, he endorsed the Republican presidential ticket of Donald Trump and Senator J.D. Vance.