Tesla CEO Elon Musk has made controversial remarks regarding his estranged transgender daughter, claiming she was “killed” following her gender-affirming care. During a recent interview with psychologist Jordan Peterson, Musk expressed his intent to “destroy the woke mind virus.” He criticized gender-reassignment surgery, labeling it as “child mutilation and sterilization.”
Musk mentioned that his daughter, Vivian Jenna Wilson, who is now 16 and identifies as trans, received gender-affirming care during the pandemic. He described feeling misled when he signed documents regarding her treatment, stating that he was informed she might be at risk of suicide at that time. He noted that this decision was made in a chaotic period due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Musk expressed strong disapproval of gender-affirming treatments for minors, agreeing with Peterson’s assertion that promoting such procedures is “incredibly evil” and suggesting that individuals who advocate for it should face imprisonment. He claimed that he was not adequately informed about the implications of puberty blockers, which he described misleadingly as sterilization drugs. However, it is important to clarify that puberty blockers do not directly affect fertility.
“I was tricked into doing this,” Musk stated, lamenting the loss of his son and referring to the concept of “deadnaming,” which he believes signifies the loss of his child.
These statements come just a week after Musk announced plans for X and SpaceX to relocate to Texas, citing California’s AB1955, known as the SAFETY Act. This legislation prohibits schools from requiring parental notification when a child identifies as transgender and mandates state support for LGBTQ+ youth. Musk has faced numerous accusations of transphobia and anti-trans messages.
In 2022, Wilson applied for a name change and new birth certificate, expressing her desire to no longer be associated with her biological father. Musk has attributed their estrangement to her progressive schooling in Los Angeles, a sentiment reflected in Walter Isaacson’s biography of the entrepreneur. The biography suggests that Musk’s strained relationship with Wilson has influenced his “anti-woke” views.
In recent years, Musk has shifted from center-left politics to embrace right-wing ideologies, touching on various topics including diversity initiatives and election integrity. Earlier this month, he endorsed the Republican presidential ticket including former President Donald Trump and Ohio Senator J.D. Vance, advocates of the oil industry and critics of clean energy.