Tesla CEO Elon Musk made headlines with statements regarding his transgender daughter during an interview with psychologist and conservative commentator Jordan Peterson. Musk claimed that his daughter, Vivian Jenna Wilson, was “killed” after receiving gender-affirming care, which led him to declare his intention to “destroy the woke mind virus.”
Musk criticized gender-reassignment surgery, referring to it as “child mutilation and sterilization” and asserting that he was misled into supporting his daughter’s transition during the pandemic when she came out as transgender at the age of 16. He expressed regret over signing documents related to her care, stating he was influenced by concerns for her mental health, including potential suicide risks.
He emphasized his belief that such medical procedures are being performed on children too young to give informed consent, echoing Peterson’s sentiments that those promoting these practices should face imprisonment. Musk alleged that he was not adequately informed about the implications of puberty blockers, which he mistakenly labeled as sterilization drugs, despite them not directly affecting fertility.
In a candid moment, Musk lamented the loss of his son, referring to the term “deadnaming” to explain the emotional impact of his daughter’s name change and transition. His comments come shortly after he announced plans for his companies, including Tesla and SpaceX, to relocate to Texas, largely in response to California’s recently passed SAFETY Act, which restricts schools from notifying parents about a child’s transgender identification.
Vivian has taken legal steps to dissociate herself from Musk entirely, having applied for a name change and a new birth certificate. Musk has suggested that their estrangement is influenced by the progressive education system in Los Angeles, as noted in Walter Isaacson’s biography.
Over recent years, Musk has shifted from his previous center-left political stance to adopt more right-wing views, engaging in discussions around diversity, election fraud, and immigration. Recently, he publicly endorsed the Republican presidential ticket, which aligns with his newfound political alignment.