Tesla CEO Elon Musk made controversial remarks about his transgender daughter, claiming that she was “killed” after receiving gender-affirming care. He expressed his determination to “destroy the woke mind virus” during an interview with psychologist and conservative commentator Jordan Peterson.
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, received gender-affirming treatment during the pandemic. He expressed regret over signing documents related to her care, claiming he was misled into believing it was necessary to prevent her from potentially committing suicide.
He criticized the practice of providing gender transition procedures to minors, stating that it occurs with children who are not yet at the age of consent. Musk emphasized his agreement with Peterson, calling the promotion of such practices “incredibly evil” and suggested punishment for those who advocate them. He also claimed he was not informed that puberty blockers function as sterilization drugs, although such drugs do not affect fertility independently.
Musk expressed feelings of loss over his daughter’s transition, stating, “I lost my son, essentially,” and commented on the term “deadnaming,” which indicates that he views this as a form of death of his previous relationship with her.
These comments followed Musk’s announcement that he would be relocating his companies, X and SpaceX, to Texas due to opposition to California legislation around transgender issues. In past years, Musk has faced accusations of transphobia and promoting anti-trans messages.
Wilson applied for a name change and new birth certificate in 2022, indicating a desire to sever ties with her father, whom she stated she does not wish to be related to. Musk has suggested that the progressive schooling his daughter attended in Los Angeles has contributed to their strained relationship, according to a biography by Walter Isaacson, who posits this estrangement may influence Musk’s anti-woke views.
In recent years, Musk’s political stance has shifted toward the right, distancing himself from his previously center-left views, as he has embraced various conservative issues, including supporting the Republican presidential candidates of former President Donald Trump and Ohio Senator J.D. Vance, both of whom oppose clean energy initiatives.