Tesla CEO Elon Musk claimed that his estranged transgender daughter was “killed” after receiving gender-affirming care, leading him to promise to “destroy the woke mind virus.” Musk made these statements during an interview with psychologist and conservative commentator Jordan Peterson.
Musk, who oversees various companies including X, labeled gender-reassignment surgery as “child mutilation and sterilization.” He mentioned that his daughter, Vivian Jenna Wilson, came out as transgender at the age of 16 and received gender-affirming care during the pandemic.
“I was essentially tricked into signing documents for one of my older boys,” Musk said, referring to Wilson, who has changed her last name. He added that he was confused at the time due to the pandemic and was led to believe that his child might be at risk of suicide.
He expressed concerns that such medical procedures are performed on children who are below the age of consent and echoed Peterson’s sentiments, calling the practice “incredibly evil.” Musk stated that anyone endorsing these actions should face imprisonment. He also mentioned that he wasn’t informed that puberty blockers are essentially sterilization drugs, although puberty blockers do not directly impact fertility.
“I was tricked into doing this,” Musk asserted. “I lost my son, essentially. They call it ‘deadnaming’ for a reason. The reason they call it ‘deadnaming’ is because your son is dead.”
These remarks were made shortly after Musk announced that X and SpaceX would relocate to Texas due to California’s AB1955, known as the SAFETY Act. This legislation prohibits schools from mandating parental notification if a child identifies as transgender and requires state support for LGBTQ+ youth.
Musk’s daughter sought a name change and a new birth certificate in 2022, stating she no longer wishes to be associated with her biological father. Musk has attributed their estrangement to her progressive school in Los Angeles, according to a biography by Walter Isaacson, who noted that this relationship has influenced Musk’s “anti-woke sentiments.”
In recent years, Musk has shifted from his previously center-left political stance towards more right-wing viewpoints on issues such as diversity, election integrity, and immigration. Earlier this month, he publicly backed the Republican presidential ticket of former President Donald Trump and Ohio Senator J.D. Vance, both of whom support the fossil fuel industry over clean energy initiatives.