Tesla CEO Elon Musk recently expressed distress over the transition of his estranged transgender daughter, asserting that she was “killed” following her gender-affirming care. Musk made these remarks during an interview with psychologist and conservative commentator Jordan Peterson, where he emphasized his commitment to combating what he termed the “woke mind virus.”
Musk referred to gender-reassignment surgery as “child mutilation and sterilization.” His daughter, Vivian Jenna Wilson, came out as trans at the age of 16 and received gender-affirming care during the pandemic. Musk mentioned that he felt misled when he signed documents for his daughter, stating that there was confusion throughout the COVID-19 crisis, with concerns raised about her mental health.
He expressed strong disagreement with gender-affirming processes for minors, stating that it is “incredibly evil” and that advocates of such treatments should face imprisonment. Musk, a father of 12, claimed he was not adequately informed that puberty blockers could lead to sterilization, although these blockers alone do not impact fertility.
Musk lamented that he feels he has “lost” his son due to what he referred to as “deadnaming,” indicating his distress over the name change and transition. His comments follow a recent announcement that he would move his companies to Texas due to California’s SAFETY Act, which safeguards LGBTQ+ youth and requires parental notification regarding gender identity.
His daughter applied for a name change and requested to sever legal ties with Musk, indicating a profound estrangement that he has attributed to her education at a progressive school. Musk has faced allegations of promoting transphobia over the years, and his political views have shifted significantly to the right, especially on issues related to diversity and social policies. Recently, he endorsed the Republican presidential ticket, aligning himself with candidates opposed to clean energy efforts.