Tesla CEO Elon Musk recently expressed his views on gender-affirming care during an interview with psychologist and conservative commentator Jordan Peterson, stating that he believes his estranged transgender daughter was “killed” by the treatment she received. This prompted Musk to declare a mission to “destroy the woke mind virus.”
Musk referred to gender-reassignment surgery as “child mutilation and sterilization,” and noted that his daughter, Vivian Jenna Wilson, came out as transgender at the age of 16 after receiving care during the pandemic. He mentioned being misled into signing documents related to her transition, claiming he was told it was necessary to prevent her from possible suicidal thoughts.
Further emphasizing his concerns, Musk criticized the medical procedures performed on children below the legal age of consent, agreeing with Peterson that such practices are “incredibly evil,” and argued that advocates of these measures should face imprisonment. He also claimed that he was not informed that puberty blockers, which he referred to as sterilization drugs, would affect fertility.
Musk articulated his feelings of loss regarding his daughter, stating, “I was tricked into doing this. I lost my son, essentially.” He highlighted the concept of “deadnaming,” suggesting it reflects the death of his son.
His comments came soon after he revealed that companies like X, SpaceX, and Tesla would relocate to Texas in response to California’s AB1955 legislation, which limits school policies regarding notification of parents when children identify as transgender and mandates support for LGBTQ+ youth. Musk has previously faced accusations of transphobia and anti-trans messaging.
In 2022, Wilson sought a name change and a new birth certificate, indicating she wished to sever ties with her father. Musk attributed their strained relationship to Wilson’s progressive education, as noted in Walter Isaacson’s biography, which links Musk’s sentiments on “anti-woke” issues to his estrangement from his daughter.
In recent times, Musk has shifted from his previous center-left political stance to adopt more right-wing viewpoints, including on diversity initiatives and election integrity. Earlier this month, he endorsed the Republican presidential ticket of Donald Trump and Senator J.D. Vance, both of whom support the oil industry while opposing clean energy initiatives.