Tesla CEO Elon Musk has made headlines with remarks regarding his estranged transgender daughter, Vivian Jenna Wilson, claiming she was “killed” after receiving gender-affirming care. Musk expressed his intent to “destroy the woke mind virus” during an interview with psychologist and conservative commentator Jordan Peterson.
Musk labeled gender-reassignment surgery as “child mutilation and sterilization,” revealing that Wilson, who came out as transgender at the age of 16, received gender-affirming treatment during the COVID-19 pandemic. He mentioned feeling misled into signing documents regarding her care, citing concerns that his daughter might be at risk of suicide.
He criticized the treatment of minors who he believes are too young to give consent, agreeing with Peterson’s assertion that promoting such procedures is “incredibly evil” and should be punishable by imprisonment. Musk, a father of 12, claimed that he was not informed that puberty blockers could be viewed as sterilization drugs, despite the fact that these treatments alone do not directly impact fertility.
Expressing deep regret, Musk stated, “I was tricked into doing this. I lost my son, essentially,” and referred to the term “deadnaming” to illustrate his feelings of loss regarding Wilson.
These statements come shortly after Musk announced that his companies, including X and SpaceX, would relocate to Texas in response to California’s AB1955, the SAFETY Act, which prohibits schools from requiring parental notification if a child identifies as transgender and mandates resources for LGBTQ+ children. Musk has faced accusations of transphobia and promoting anti-trans narratives in the past.
In 2022, Wilson applied for a name change and a new birth certificate, expressing her desire to sever ties with her biological father. According to Walter Isaacson’s biography of Musk, the lack of a relationship with his daughter is a contributing factor to his strong anti-woke stance.
In recent years, Musk’s political views have shifted significantly to the right, moving away from his previously center-left ideologies. Earlier this month, he publicly endorsed the Republican presidential ticket of Donald Trump and Senator J.D. Vance, both of whom support the oil industry and oppose clean energy initiatives.