Tesla CEO Elon Musk has made controversial statements regarding his estranged transgender daughter, claiming that she was “killed” after undergoing gender-affirming care. Musk shared these sentiments during an interview with psychologist and conservative commentator Jordan Peterson, where he also expressed his commitment to combating what he describes as the “woke mind virus.”
Musk criticized gender-reassignment surgery, labeling it as “child mutilation and sterilization.” He revealed that his daughter, Vivian Jenna Wilson, came out as transgender at the age of 16, following her receipt of gender-affirming care during the pandemic.
In the interview, Musk stated, “I was essentially tricked into signing documents for one of my older boys,” referring to Wilson, who has changed her last name to distance herself from him. He expressed regret for the period during which he was misled and noted that there was significant confusion due to the pandemic, including concerns about his child potentially facing suicidal thoughts.
He further discussed the implications of the medical procedures on children, claiming those subjected to them are often “far below the age of consent.” Musk echoed Peterson’s view that promoting such practices is “incredibly evil” and suggested that advocates for these procedures should face imprisonment. Additionally, he expressed frustration over not being informed that puberty blockers were, in his opinion, equivalent to sterilization drugs, despite the fact that these blockers alone do not affect fertility.
“I was tricked into doing this,” Musk lamented, suggesting that he feels he lost his son. He referred to the term “deadnaming,” stating that it signifies the death of his son’s previous identity.
Musk’s remarks come shortly after he revealed plans for his companies, including X and SpaceX, to relocate to Texas, citing opposition to California’s AB1955, known as the SAFETY Act. This law prohibits schools from requiring parental notification if a child identifies as transgender and mandates that the State Department offer resources to LGBTQ+ youth. Musk has faced allegations of transphobia and has frequently been criticized for his stance on LGBTQ+ issues.
His daughter sought a name change and a new birth certificate in 2022, stating in court documents that she wishes to sever all ties with her biological father. According to Walter Isaacson’s biography of Musk, the strained relationship with Wilson has influenced his shift towards anti-woke sentiments.
Over the years, Musk’s political views have shifted from center-left to increasingly aligning with right-wing ideologies, voiced through his positions on various societal issues. Recently, he endorsed the Republican presidential candidacy of former President Donald Trump and Ohio Senator J.D. Vance, both of whom advocate for traditional energy sources and oppose clean energy initiatives.