Tesla CEO Elon Musk recently expressed his deep concerns regarding gender-affirming care, claiming it led to the “death” of his estranged transgender daughter. During an interview with psychologist and conservative commentator Jordan Peterson, Musk labeled gender-reassignment surgery as “child mutilation and sterilization.” He shared that his daughter, Vivian Jenna Wilson, came out as transgender at age 16 and received medical care during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Musk said he felt “tricked” into allowing his child to pursue such treatments, admitting he signed documents without fully understanding the implications. He claimed that the fear of suicide was presented to him as a reason for his daughter’s decisions. Musk criticized the procedures as being administered to minors who do not have the legal capacity to provide consent, agreeing with Peterson that promoting such practices is “incredibly evil” and should be punishable by imprisonment. He also stated that he was not told that puberty blockers could function as sterilization drugs.
The entrepreneur lamented the loss of his relationship with his child, emphasizing the significance of deadnaming in the context of his feelings about losing his son. Musk’s remarks follow his recent move of Tesla and SpaceX operations to Texas, in part due to California’s AB1955 legislation, which restricts parental notification if their child identifies as transgender.
Musk’s daughter sought a name change in 2022, expressing a desire to completely detach from her father’s identity. According to biographer Walter Isaacson, Musk believes this estrangement is a prime factor in his public stance against progressive views. Over the years, Musk has shifted from a center-left political stance to increasingly embrace right-wing ideologies, including on issues surrounding diversity and immigration. Recently, he endorsed the Republican presidential goals of Donald Trump and Senator J.D. Vance, both known for their support of traditional energy sources over clean energy.