Tesla CEO Elon Musk stated that his estranged transgender daughter was “killed” after receiving gender-affirming care, which led him to pledge to “destroy the woke mind virus.”
Musk made these remarks during an interview with psychologist and conservative commentator Jordan Peterson that aired Monday. He criticized gender-reassignment surgery, labeling it as “child mutilation and sterilization.” Musk discussed his daughter, Vivian Jenna Wilson, who came out as transgender at 16 and pursued 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 no longer uses his last name. He conveyed that he was misled during a time of uncertainty due to COVID-19 when he was informed that his child might be at risk of suicide.
He criticized the practice of providing gender-affirming care to minors and expressed his agreement with Peterson, stating that it is “incredibly evil” and advocated for legal consequences for those who promote such care. Musk, who has 12 children, claimed he was never informed that puberty blockers could be considered “sterilization drugs,” even though they do not inherently affect fertility.
“I was tricked into doing this,” he lamented, asserting that he feels he has lost his son. He remarked that the term “deadnaming” exists for a reason, indicating that he believes his son is no longer alive.
Musk’s comments come shortly after announcing plans for X and SpaceX to relocate to Texas, following California’s AB1955, also known as the SAFETY Act. This legislation restricts schools from requiring parental notification when a child identifies as transgender and mandates state resources for supporting LGBTQ+ youth. Musk has faced accusations of transphobia and anti-trans messaging in the past.
In 2022, Wilson filed for a name change and a new birth certificate, expressing in court documents a desire to sever ties with her biological father completely. Musk has attributed the distance in their relationship to the progressive environment at her school in Los Angeles, as described in Walter Isaacson’s biography. Isaacson suggests that Musk’s estrangement from Wilson has influenced his “anti-woke sentiments.”
Over the past few years, Musk, who was once known for his center-left beliefs, has increasingly adopted right-wing rhetoric, addressing issues such as diversity, election integrity, and immigration. Earlier this month, he expressed support for the Republican presidential candidacy of former President Donald Trump and Ohio Senator J.D. Vance, both advocates for the oil industry and opponents of clean energy initiatives.