Tesla CEO Elon Musk claimed that his estranged transgender daughter was “killed” after she received gender-affirming care, expressing his intention to combat what he called the “woke mind virus.”
Musk made these remarks during an interview with psychologist and conservative commentator Jordan Peterson. He criticized gender-reassignment surgery, labeling it as “child mutilation and sterilization.” His daughter, Vivian Jenna Wilson, came out as transgender at the age of 16 and received gender-affirming care during the pandemic.
“I was essentially tricked into signing documents for one of my older boys,” Musk said, referring to Wilson, who has distanced herself from him. He explained that this occurred before he fully understood the situation and amidst the confusion brought on by COVID-19, with concerns that his child might be at risk of suicide.
Musk stated that the procedures are performed on children who are below the age of consent, agreeing with Peterson’s assertion that it is “incredibly evil” and that advocates for such practices should face imprisonment. As a father of 12, Musk expressed that he was not adequately informed about puberty blockers, which he said he believed were sterilization drugs, though puberty blockers do not directly impact fertility.
“I was tricked into doing this,” Musk stated. “I lost my son, essentially. They call it ‘deadnaming’ for a reason. The reason they call it ‘deadnaming’ is because your son is dead.”
These comments follow Musk’s announcement that X and SpaceX would relocate to Texas in response to California’s AB1955 law, which prohibits schools from requiring parental notification when a child identifies as transgender and mandates the provision of resources for LGBTQ+ youth. Musk has faced accusations of transphobia and promoting anti-trans rhetoric in the past.
In 2022, Wilson applied for a name change and requested a new birth certificate, indicating in court documents that she does not want to be associated with her biological father. Musk has attributed their strained relationship to her progressive school in Los Angeles, as noted in Walter Isaacson’s biography of Musk. This estrangement has been suggested as a factor behind Musk’s outspoken “anti-woke” views.
Over recent years, Musk, who once held centrist political views, has gravitated towards right-wing narratives regarding issues like diversity, election fraud, and immigration. Earlier this month, he endorsed the Republican presidential ticket, which includes former president Donald Trump and Ohio Senator J.D. Vance, both known for their support of the fossil fuel industry and opposition to clean energy initiatives.