Tesla CEO Elon Musk made controversial remarks regarding his transgender daughter, stating that she was “killed” after receiving gender-affirming care. Musk’s statements occurred during an interview with psychologist and conservative commentator Jordan Peterson, where he vowed to “destroy the woke mind virus.”
Musk described gender-reassignment surgery as “child mutilation and sterilization,” mentioning that his daughter, Vivian Jenna Wilson, began her gender transition during the pandemic at the age of 16. He expressed regret for having signed documents related to her care, claiming he was misled and acted under the stress of the COVID-19 crisis, where he was informed that she might be at risk of suicide.
He argued that such medical interventions are conducted on children who are not old enough to give consent, aligning with Peterson’s sentiment that promoting such treatments is “incredibly evil” and that proponents should face imprisonment. Musk, who has a total of 12 children, also mentioned that he was unaware that puberty blockers could lead to permanent sterilization, despite the fact that puberty blockers themselves do not directly affect fertility.
Musk expressed a sense of profound loss, stating, “I lost my son, essentially,” referring to the practice of “deadnaming,” which indicates the emotional turmoil surrounding his daughter’s transition. His comments come shortly after announcing that his companies, including X and SpaceX, would relocate from California to Texas, mainly in response to the state’s SAFETY Act, which restricts how schools should notify parents about students identifying as transgender.
Musk’s daughter sought a legal name change in 2022, declaring her desire to sever ties with her father. He has attributed their strained relationship to the influence of her progressive school in Los Angeles, a situation that, according to biographer Walter Isaacson, has influenced Musk’s increasingly vocal “anti-woke” rhetoric.
In recent years, Musk has shifted from center-left views to more right-wing positions on various issues, including diversity, electoral integrity, and immigration. Earlier this month, he publicly supported the Republican presidential ticket of Donald Trump and Senator J.D. Vance, both of whom are advocates for the oil industry and critical of clean energy initiatives.