Tesla’s CEO Elon Musk recently expressed his grief over the transition of his estranged transgender daughter, Vivian Jenna Wilson, stating that she was “killed” after receiving gender-affirming care. Musk made these remarks during an interview with psychologist and conservative commentator Jordan Peterson, claiming to be determined to combat what he refers to as the “woke mind virus.”
Musk, who oversees multiple companies, labeled gender-reassignment surgery as “child mutilation and sterilization.” He shared that Wilson, who identifies as transgender, came out at 16 and received gender-affirming care during the pandemic. According to Musk, he felt misled into signing documents regarding his daughter’s transition without fully understanding the implications.
In his comments, Musk expressed concern about the practice being applied to minors who are below the age of consent, agreeing with Peterson that it is “incredibly evil” and suggesting that advocates of such procedures should face imprisonment. Musk also mentioned that he was not informed that puberty blockers, often prescribed in such cases, can act as sterilization drugs, although they do not inherently affect fertility.
He lamented that he feels he has lost his son, asserting that the term “deadnaming” reflects the gravity of the situation. His recent comments come shortly after he announced that X and SpaceX would relocate to Texas due to California’s proposed SAFETY Act, which restricts parental notification regarding transgender identification in schools.
In 2022, Wilson filed for a name change and a new birth certificate, stating she no longer wishes to be associated with Musk, who blames their estrangement on her liberal school environment. This strained relationship has been cited as a factor in Musk’s increasing anti-woke rhetoric.
Over the past few years, Musk, previously recognized for his moderate political views, has shifted towards more right-leaning ideologies, publicly endorsing Republican candidates and positions related to various issues, including energy policy and immigration.