Tesla CEO Elon Musk recently stated that his transgender daughter was “killed” following her gender-affirming care, which prompted him to pledge to “destroy the woke mind virus.” These remarks were made during an interview with Jordan Peterson, a psychologist and conservative commentator, aired on Monday. Musk criticized gender-reassignment surgery, referring to it as “child mutilation and sterilization.” He revealed that his daughter, Vivian Jenna Wilson, sought gender-affirming care during the pandemic and came out as transgender at the age of 16.
Musk mentioned that he felt misled when signing documents regarding Wilson, who has distanced herself from her father’s surname. He noted that during the COVID-19 pandemic, he was warned that his child might be at risk of suicide, leading to confusion about the decision-making process. Musk emphasized that he believes such medical procedures should not be performed on minors who cannot legally consent, echoing Peterson’s views that it is “incredibly evil,” and expressed that those advocating for these practices should face imprisonment.
He claimed he was not adequately informed that puberty blockers are essentially sterilization drugs, although it should be noted that puberty blockers do not directly affect fertility. Musk lamented, “I was tricked into doing this. I lost my son, essentially,” referring to the term “deadnaming,” which he believes signifies the loss of his child.
These comments come shortly after Musk announced that his companies, including X and SpaceX, would relocate to Texas due to California’s SAFETY Act, which prohibits schools from requiring parental notification if a child identifies as transgender and mandates state support for LGBTQ+ youth. Musk has faced accusations of transphobia and anti-trans messaging in the past.
In 2022, Musk’s daughter applied for a name change and sought a new birth certificate, stating in court filings her desire to sever ties with her biological father entirely. Musk has attributed the rift in their relationship to her education at a progressive school in Los Angeles, as outlined in Walter Isaacson’s biography, suggesting that this estrangement has influenced his anti-woke views.
Over the past few years, Musk has shifted from his previously center-left political stance to embrace increasingly right-wing ideologies across various issues, including diversity, election integrity, and immigration. Recently, he endorsed the Republican presidential candidacy of former President Donald Trump along with Ohio Senator J.D. Vance, both of whom support the oil industry and oppose clean energy initiatives.