Tesla CEO Elon Musk made controversial statements regarding his estranged transgender daughter during an interview with psychologist and conservative commentator Jordan Peterson. He claimed that his daughter, Vivian Jenna Wilson, was “killed” after receiving gender-affirming care, which led him to assert he would “destroy the woke mind virus.”
Musk, who is at the helm of several corporations including X, criticized gender-reassignment surgery, describing it as “child mutilation and sterilization.” He revealed that Wilson came out as transgender at the age of 16 and received gender-affirming care during the pandemic.
He expressed feelings of being misled regarding his daughter’s medical care, stating, “I was essentially tricked into signing documents for one of my older boys,” referring to Wilson, who now uses a different last name. Musk mentioned he was under the impression that his child might be at risk of suicide, which influenced his decision-making during a confusing time.
Musk further commented on the age at which children can receive such care, agreeing with Peterson that it is “incredibly evil” and maintained that those who promote it should be punished. Musk, who is a father of 12, asserted that he was not adequately informed about puberty blockers, which he described as “sterilization drugs,” despite this characterization not being medically accurate.
He lamented the loss of his son due to the circumstances, stating, “The reason they call it ‘deadnaming’ is because your son is dead.”
These statements came a week after Musk announced that his companies, including Tesla, X, and SpaceX, would relocate to Texas, citing opposition to California’s AB1955 legislation, which prohibits schools from notifying parents if their child identifies as transgender and mandates resources for LGBTQ+ youth. Musk has faced accusations of promoting anti-trans sentiments, and his daughter’s 2022 court application for a name change indicated a desire to dissociate from her father completely.
Musk’s relationship with Wilson has reportedly strained due to the progressive nature of her school, with biographer Walter Isaacson indicating that this estrangement has influenced Musk’s growing anti-woke rhetoric. Over recent years, Musk has shifted from his previously centrist political stance, embracing more right-wing viewpoints on various issues, including diversity and immigration. Recently, he endorsed the Republican ticket of Donald Trump and J.D. Vance, both known for their opposition to clean energy initiatives.