Tesla CEO Elon Musk has made controversial remarks about his estranged transgender daughter, claiming she was “killed” after receiving gender-affirming care. He expressed these views during an interview with psychologist and conservative commentator Jordan Peterson, emphasizing his commitment to combat what he calls the “woke mind virus.”
Musk referred to gender-reassignment surgery as “child mutilation and sterilization,” discussing his daughter, Vivian Jenna Wilson, who came out as transgender at 16 and received gender-affirming treatment during the COVID-19 pandemic. He expressed feeling misled into supporting those decisions when he believed Wilson was at risk of suicide.
During the interview, Musk criticized medical interventions for minors who are not of legal age to consent, agreeing with Peterson that promoting such practices is “incredibly evil,” and argued those responsible for them should face imprisonment. He also claimed that he was not informed that puberty blockers could have permanent effects.
Musk remarked, “I was tricked into doing this. I lost my son, essentially,” referencing the concept of “deadnaming” his child. His statements come as he announced relocations of his companies to Texas amid opposition to California’s SAFETY Act, which restricts parental notification regarding a child’s transgender identity in schools and reinforces resources for LGBTQ+ youth.
In 2022, Wilson sought legal approval for a name change and a new birth certificate, stating she no longer wishes to be associated with her biological father. Musk has attributed their strained relationship to the progressive education environment in Los Angeles. Recent biographies suggest that this estrangement has influenced Musk’s growing “anti-woke” rhetoric.
Musk, who has shifted from his previous center-left political stances, has recently aligned himself with right-wing ideologies, including endorsing the Republican party’s presidential candidates, former President Donald Trump and Ohio Senator J.D. Vance, both of whom oppose clean energy initiatives.