Tesla CEO Elon Musk has made controversial comments regarding his estranged transgender daughter, stating that she was “killed” after receiving gender-affirming care. During an interview with psychologist and conservative commentator Jordan Peterson, Musk discussed his views on gender-reassignment surgery, labeling it as “child mutilation and sterilization.” His daughter, Vivian Jenna Wilson, publicly came out as transgender at the age of 16 and received gender-affirming care during the pandemic.
Musk expressed that he felt misled into signing documents for Wilson, who no longer carries his last name. He mentioned that this occurred amidst the confusion of the pandemic, during which he was concerned for his child’s mental health. He criticized the medical decisions made for minors, asserting that such actions are “incredibly evil” and suggested that advocates for these treatments should face imprisonment. He also claimed he was not properly informed that puberty blockers are effectively sterilization drugs, despite that blockers, when used alone, do not directly affect fertility.
Musk’s remarks came shortly after he announced that Tesla and his other companies, including X and SpaceX, would relocate to Texas in response to California’s SAFETY Act, which restricts parental notification regarding transgender identification in schools. The billionaire has faced frequent accusations of transphobia and promoting anti-trans narratives.
In 2022, Musk’s daughter sought a legal name change and a new birth certificate, indicating her desire to sever ties with her father. In Walter Isaacson’s biography, Musk attributed the rift in their relationship to her progressive education in Los Angeles, suggesting that his daughter’s choices have influenced his “anti-woke” views.
In recent years, Musk has shifted from his previous center-left stance to embrace right-wing rhetoric, addressing issues such as diversity, election fraud, and immigration. Earlier this month, he also endorsed former President Donald Trump and Ohio Senator J.D. Vance for the Republican presidential ticket.