Tesla CEO Elon Musk recently made controversial remarks about 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 intention to “destroy the woke mind virus.”
Musk criticized gender-reassignment surgery, labeling it as “child mutilation and sterilization.” He mentioned his daughter, Vivian Jenna Wilson, who came out as transgender at the age of 16 and received gender-affirming care during the pandemic. Musk mentioned that he felt “tricked” into signing documents related to Wilson’s care and described his confusion during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The CEO voiced strong opinions against the medical processes for transgender youth, stating they are performed on children who are not of legal consent age and aligning with Peterson’s assertion that promoting such treatments is “incredibly evil.” He claimed he was unaware that puberty blockers are “actually just sterilization drugs,” despite these medications not directly affecting fertility.
Musk expressed deep sorrow over the loss of his son, emphasizing that the term “deadnaming” reflects that he feels his son is no longer alive. His comments come shortly after announcing that his companies X and SpaceX would relocate to Texas, following California’s AB1955 legislation regarding parental notification for transgender identification in schools.
In 2022, Wilson applied for a name change and a new birth certificate, stating she wishes to sever ties with her biological father. Musk has attributed the estrangement to her progressive education in Los Angeles, suggesting that it has influenced her views on their relationship. This distance and his public comments appear to have fueled Musk’s growing alignment with right-wing ideologies, shifting from his previously more centrist stance. Recently, he also endorsed the Republican presidential ticket featuring former President Donald Trump and Senate candidate J.D. Vance.