Tesla CEO Elon Musk recently made controversial remarks about his estranged transgender daughter, claiming she was “killed” after receiving gender-affirming care. During an interview with psychologist and conservative commentator Jordan Peterson, broadcast on Monday, Musk referred to gender-reassignment surgery as “child mutilation and sterilization.” His daughter, Vivian Jenna Wilson, came out as transgender at age 16 and underwent gender-affirming treatments during the pandemic.
Musk expressed regret over a decision he made concerning his child, stating, “I was essentially tricked into signing documents for one of my older boys.” He suggested that pressure about potential suicide led him to agree to care options without fully understanding them. Musk emphasized his belief that administering such treatments to minors, who are below the age of consent, is “incredibly evil” and that he supports imprisoning those who promote these practices. He also stated that he was not informed that puberty blockers could act as sterilization drugs, although medical professionals clarify that, on their own, puberty blockers do not affect fertility.
“I lost my son, essentially,” Musk lamented, adding that the term “deadnaming” reflects a deep loss. These statements follow his recent decision to relocate X and SpaceX to Texas, citing California’s AB1955, which limits school policies regarding parental notification for transgender students. Musk has faced accusations of transphobia and anti-trans messaging in the past.
In 2022, Musk’s daughter filed for a name change and a new birth certificate, expressing that she does not want to be connected to her father. According to Walter Isaacson’s biography of Musk, he attributes their strained relationship to her progressive school in Los Angeles, a disconnect that he believes has fueled his “anti-woke sentiments.”
In recent years, Musk has shifted from center-left politics to right-wing views, recently endorsing the Republican ticket of Donald Trump and J.D. Vance, both known for their positions against clean energy and in favor of the oil industry.