Tesla CEO Elon Musk stated that his estranged transgender daughter was “killed” after she received gender-affirming care, prompting him to express a desire to “destroy the woke mind virus.”
Musk made these remarks during an interview with psychologist and conservative commentator Jordan Peterson. He referred to gender-reassignment surgery as “child mutilation and sterilization,” and mentioned that his daughter, Vivian Jenna Wilson, whom he no longer acknowledges by his last name, received gender-affirming care during the pandemic and identified as transgender at 16.
He claimed to have been misled into signing documents regarding his child and expressed confusion during the COVID pandemic. Musk recounted being told that his child might commit suicide, leading him to support the medical decisions made at the time.
Musk criticized the practice of providing gender transitions to children who are not of age to consent, agreeing with Peterson that it is “incredibly evil” and suggesting that those who advocate for such practices should face imprisonment. He also shared his belief that he was not adequately informed about the implications of puberty blockers, which he incorrectly characterized as sterilization drugs, despite their actual effects on fertility being more nuanced.
During the interview, Musk remarked, “I was tricked into doing this. I lost my son, essentially,” indicating that he views his daughter’s name change as a loss.
These comments come shortly after Musk announced that his companies, including X and SpaceX, would relocate to Texas in response to California’s AB1955 legislation, which challenges school policies on parental notification regarding transgender identification and mandates state support for LGBTQ+ youth. Musk has faced accusations of transphobia and promoting anti-trans views in the past.
Wilson legally changed her name and sought a new birth certificate in 2022, stating in court documents that she wishes to sever ties with her biological father. Musk has attributed the strained relationship to her progressive education in Los Angeles, as described in Walter Isaacson’s biography of him, which suggests that this family dynamic has influenced Musk’s recent shift towards more right-wing ideologies.
In recent years, Musk has transitioned from his previous center-left political stance to embracing various conservative viewpoints, particularly on matters such as diversity initiatives, election integrity, and immigration issues. Earlier this month, he publicly supported the Republican presidential candidacy of Donald Trump and Ohio Senator J.D. Vance, both of whom are advocates for the oil sector and oppose clean energy initiatives.