Tesla CEO Elon Musk recently expressed strong feelings regarding gender-affirming care for transgender individuals during an interview with psychologist and commentator Jordan Peterson. He claimed that his estranged daughter, who now identifies as transgender, was “killed” by the decisions made in her care, calling it “child mutilation and sterilization.” Musk’s daughter, Vivian Jenna Wilson, came out as trans at the age of 16 and received gender-affirming treatments during the pandemic.
Musk stated that he felt misled into signing documents regarding his daughter’s care, expressing that he was facing a lot of confusion during that time due to COVID-19. He mentioned concerns about his child’s mental health, stating he was told she might attempt suicide.
The Tesla CEO argued that gender-affirming procedures are performed on children well below the age of consent and voiced his agreement with Peterson’s assessment that such practices are “incredibly evil,” asserting that those who advocate for them should face imprisonment. Musk claimed he was never informed that puberty blockers serve as sterilization drugs. He emphasized his feelings of loss regarding his daughter, stating, “I lost my son, essentially.”
His remarks come shortly after announcing that Tesla, X, and SpaceX would relocate to Texas due to California legislation affecting parental notifications about transgender identification in schools. Musk has faced criticism for allegedly promoting anti-trans messaging and has cited his estranged relationship with his daughter as a contributing factor to his “anti-woke” views.
In 2022, Musk’s daughter sought a name change and new birth certificate, expressing her desire to no longer be associated with her father. Musk has previously attributed the rift in their relationship to her progressive education in Los Angeles. Over the past few years, Musk has shifted from his historically centrist political stance toward right-wing viewpoints on various issues.