Tesla CEO Elon Musk claimed that his estranged transgender daughter was “killed” after undergoing gender-affirming care, which led him to declare his intent to “destroy the woke mind virus.”
Musk made these statements during an interview with conservative commentator Jordan Peterson, aired on Monday. He has described gender-reassignment surgery as “child mutilation and sterilization,” stating that his daughter, Vivian Jenna Wilson, who identifies as trans, received such care amid the pandemic when she was 16 years old.
He expressed that he felt manipulated into signing documents regarding his daughter’s transition, saying, “I was essentially tricked” and that he was informed his child might commit suicide during that time of confusion due to COVID-19. Wilson has since chosen to no longer carry her father’s last name.
Musk criticized the procedures for minors, agreeing with Peterson that they are “incredibly evil” and suggested that advocates for these practices should face imprisonment. He also claimed that no one informed him that puberty blockers were “actually just sterilization drugs,” although puberty blockers do not inherently affect fertility.
“I was tricked into doing this,” Musk remarked. He stated he feels he lost a son, pointing out that the term “deadnaming” signifies a loss.
These comments followed Musk’s announcement that his companies, including X and SpaceX, will relocate to Texas in light of California’s AB1955, or the SAFETY Act, which prohibits schools from mandating parental notification if a child identifies as transgender and provides resources for LGBTQ+ youth. Musk has faced allegations of transphobia and promoting anti-trans rhetoric in the past.
In 2022, his daughter sought a legal name change and new birth certificate, expressing in court documents a desire to sever her ties with Musk entirely. He has attributed his estrangement from her to her progressive schooling in Los Angeles, as noted in Walter Isaacson’s biography of Musk, which posits that this strained relationship has influenced his anti-woke views.
Over recent years, Musk, who previously held moderate political views, has adopted increasingly right-leaning positions on issues including diversity, election integrity, and immigration. Recently, he endorsed the Republican presidential ticket featuring former President Donald Trump and Ohio Senator J.D. Vance, who advocate for the oil industry and oppose clean energy initiatives.