Tesla CEO Elon Musk recently stated that he feels his estranged transgender daughter has been “killed” after receiving gender-affirming treatment. This prompted him to express his intention to “destroy the woke mind virus.”
Musk made these remarks in an interview with psychologist and conservative commentator Jordan Peterson that aired on Monday. During the conversation, he criticized gender-reassignment surgery, labeling it as “child mutilation and sterilization.” Musk’s daughter, Vivian Jenna Wilson, who came out as transgender at 16, received this treatment during the pandemic.
Musk claimed he was misled into consenting to documents regarding Wilson’s treatment, mentioning that he was told she might attempt suicide during a time of confusion related to COVID-19. He noted that this process involves children who are significantly below the legal age of consent and aligned with Peterson’s view that such practices are “incredibly evil,” suggesting that those who promote them should face imprisonment. While Musk has voiced concerns about fertility and overpopulation, he stated he was not informed that puberty blockers function as sterilization drugs, although these medications do not directly impact fertility.
“I was tricked into doing this,” Musk lamented. He expressed a profound sense of loss, stating, “I lost my son, essentially,” highlighting the term “deadnaming” used in transgender discussions, which he argues signifies that his son is effectively gone.
These comments come shortly after Musk announced that X and SpaceX would relocate to Texas, joining Tesla, in response to California’s AB1955, the SAFETY Act. This legislation prohibits schools from mandating parental notification if a child identifies as transgender and requires the State Department to offer resources to support LGBTQ+ youth. Musk has faced ongoing accusations of transphobia and anti-trans messaging.
In 2022, Musk’s daughter sought a name change and a new birth certificate, indicating in court documents her desire to sever ties with her biological father. Musk has attributed the strain in their relationship to her progressive schooling in Los Angeles, which Walter Isaacson noted has fueled Musk’s “anti-woke sentiments.”
In recent years, Musk has shifted from his previously center-left political stance to embrace a more right-wing ideology, addressing various issues including diversity initiatives, election fraud, and immigration. Earlier this month, he publicly endorsed former President Donald Trump and Ohio Senator J.D. Vance for the Republican party’s presidential ticket, both of whom advocate for the oil industry and oppose clean energy initiatives.