Tesla’s CEO Elon Musk claimed that his estranged transgender daughter passed away in a sense after undergoing gender-affirming care, leading him to express a determination to combat what he refers to as the “woke mind virus.”
During an interview with psychologist and conservative commentator Jordan Peterson, aired on Monday, Musk described gender-reassignment surgery as “child mutilation and sterilization.” He revealed that his daughter, Vivian Jenna Wilson, who came out as transgender at 16 and has since changed her last name, received gender-affirming care during the pandemic.
Musk recounted feeling misled into signing documents concerning his child, whom he referred to as his son at the time, stating that this occurred amid confusion during COVID-19, and he was led to believe that it was a matter of preventing suicide. He voiced his opinion that such procedures are conducted on minors who cannot provide consent, agreeing with Peterson that it is a grave injustice and asserting that those advocating for it should face imprisonment.
He further claimed that he was not adequately informed that puberty blockers are effectively sterilization drugs, despite such medications typically not affecting fertility on their own.
Expressing deep regret, Musk said, “I was tricked into doing this. I lost my son, essentially,” noting that the term “deadnaming” reflects the loss of his child’s previous identity.
These remarks come shortly after Musk announced that X and SpaceX would relocate to Texas, joining Tesla, in response to California’s AB1955, known as the SAFETY Act. This legislation prohibits schools from mandating that parents be informed if their child identifies as transgender and requires the State Department to offer resources for LGBTQ+ youth. Musk has faced allegations of transphobia and promoting anti-trans rhetoric in the past.
In 2022, Musk’s daughter sought a name change and new birth certificate, stating she did not wish to be associated with her biological father. Musk has suggested that their strained relationship is a result of her education in a progressive school in Los Angeles, a theme highlighted in Walter Isaacson’s biography of Musk, which indicates that this estrangement influences his “anti-woke” views.
In recent times, Musk, who once held centrist political beliefs, has increasingly adopted right-wing ideologies on various issues, including diversity, election integrity, and immigration. Earlier this month, he endorsed the Republican presidential ticket of former president Donald Trump and Ohio Senator J.D. Vance, both of whom support the oil industry and oppose clean energy initiatives.