In a recent interview with psychologist and conservative commentator Jordan Peterson, Tesla CEO Elon Musk expressed strong views regarding his estranged transgender daughter, Vivian Jenna Wilson. Musk claimed that his daughter was “killed” after undergoing gender-affirming care, which prompted him to declare a mission to combat what he calls the “woke mind virus.”
Musk referred to gender-reassignment surgery as “child mutilation and sterilization,” stating that Vivian, who is now 16 and identified as transgender during the pandemic, received such care without his full understanding at the time. He admitted that he felt pressured into supporting her decisions during a confusing period marked by the COVID-19 pandemic, fearing for her mental health.
He criticized the practice of providing gender-affirming treatments to minors, indicating that it should be considered “incredibly evil” and that individuals advocating for it should be held accountable. Despite being a father of 12, Musk remarked that he was not informed that puberty blockers could be considered sterilization drugs, although these medications do not inherently affect fertility.
Musk claimed to have “lost” his son and spoke about his feelings of grief surrounding the issue, using the term “deadnaming” to describe the experience of losing his son to this transition.
These comments came shortly after Musk announced that X and SpaceX, along with Tesla, would relocate their operations to Texas in response to California’s AB1955, legislation that protects the rights of transgender youth. Musk has faced accusations of transphobia over the years and has linked his strained relationship with Wilson to her progressive education in Los Angeles. In 2022, she sought a name change and a new birth certificate, stating that she no longer wished to be associated with her biological father.
Musk, who was previously known for more centrist views, has shifted toward right-wing perspectives on various social issues and has recently endorsed the Republican presidential ticket.