Tesla CEO Elon Musk recently made controversial remarks about his estranged transgender daughter, claiming she was “killed” after receiving gender-affirming care, which led him to vow to “destroy the woke mind virus.”
During an interview aired Monday with psychologist and conservative commentator Jordan Peterson, Musk condemned gender-reassignment surgery, referring to it as “child mutilation and sterilization.” He mentioned that his daughter, Vivian Jenna Wilson, received gender-affirming care during the pandemic and came out as transgender at the age of 16.
Musk expressed feelings of being misled, stating, “I was essentially tricked into signing documents for one of my older boys,” referring to Wilson, who has since changed her surname. He explained that his decision came during a confusing time amid the COVID crisis, during which he was concerned for his child’s mental health, as he was informed that Wilson might consider suicide.
He criticized the medical processes involving children who are below the age of consent and aligned with Peterson by labeling such practices as “incredibly evil,” suggesting that those who support it should face imprisonment. Musk, a father of 12, also claimed he was unaware that puberty blockers were effectively sterilization drugs, although it is important to note that puberty blockers alone do not directly affect fertility.
“I was tricked into doing this,” Musk said, reflecting on his feelings of loss over the relationship with his daughter. He added, “They call it ‘deadnaming’ for a reason. The reason they call it ‘deadnaming’ is because your son is dead.”
These comments came shortly after Musk announced that his companies, X and SpaceX, would relocate to Texas in response to California’s AB1955, or the SAFETY Act. This legislation prohibits schools from enforcing rules that require parents to be informed if their child identifies as transgender and mandates the State Department to offer resources to support LGBTQ+ youth. Musk has faced allegations of promoting transphobia in the past.
In 2022, Musk’s daughter sought to change her name and obtain a new birth certificate, stating in court documents that she wanted to sever ties with her biological father completely. Musk has attributed the estrangement to the influence of her progressive school in Los Angeles, as noted in Walter Isaacson’s biography, where he suggests that this relationship strain has fueled Musk’s anti-woke rhetoric.
Over recent years, Musk, who once held center-left political views, has increasingly embraced right-wing ideologies on topics such as diversity, election integrity, and immigration. Earlier this month, he publicly endorsed the Republican presidential ticket of former president Donald Trump and Ohio Senator J.D. Vance, both of whom advocate for the oil industry and oppose clean energy initiatives.