Tesla CEO Elon Musk claimed that his estranged transgender daughter was “killed” after receiving gender-affirming care, leading him to a commitment to “destroy the woke mind virus.”
Musk expressed these views during an interview with psychologist and conservative commentator Jordan Peterson. He referred to gender-reassignment surgery as “child mutilation and sterilization.” Musk’s daughter, Vivian Jenna Wilson, came out as transgender at the age of 16 and received gender-affirming care during the pandemic.
Musk mentioned that he felt misled into signing documents for Wilson, stating that this occurred amid the chaos of COVID-19. He revealed that he was concerned for his child’s mental health, as he had been informed that Wilson might be at risk of suicide.
In his remarks, Musk criticized the procedure carried out on minors who are below the age of consent, agreeing with Peterson that it is “incredibly evil” to promote such practices and suggesting that advocates should face imprisonment. Musk, a father of 12, claimed he was not informed that puberty blockers function as sterilization drugs, despite puberty blockers not directly impacting fertility.
“I was tricked into doing this,” Musk lamented, reflecting on the estrangement from his daughter. He asserted that the term “deadnaming” signifies the loss of his son.
These comments come shortly after Musk announced that X and SpaceX would relocate to Texas, in response to California’s AB1955, or the SAFETY Act. This legislation prohibits schools from mandating parental notification if a child identifies as transgender and compels the State Department to support LGBTQ+ children. Musk has faced accusations of transphobia and promoting anti-trans messaging.
In 2022, Wilson applied for a name change and a new birth certificate, stating in court documents that she wishes to sever ties with her biological father. Musk has attributed the breakdown of their relationship to her progressive school in Los Angeles, according to Walter Isaacson’s biography, which mentions that this estrangement may be a contributing factor to Musk’s “anti-woke sentiments.”
Musk, who has shifted from center-left to more right-wing viewpoints in recent years, has voiced support for a Republican presidential ticket that includes former president Donald Trump and Ohio Senator J.D. Vance, both of whom advocate for oil interests and oppose clean energy initiatives.