Tesla’s CEO Elon Musk stated during a recent interview that his estranged transgender daughter was “killed” after receiving gender-affirming care. He expressed his commitment to combating what he referred to as the “woke mind virus.”
Musk made these remarks during a discussion with psychologist and conservative commentator Jordan Peterson, where he criticized gender-reassignment surgery, labeling it as “child mutilation and sterilization.” He shared that his daughter, Vivian Jenna Wilson, came out as transgender during the pandemic at the age of 16 and received gender-affirming care.
He described feeling misled into consenting to medical procedures for his child, expressing that confusion during the COVID pandemic influenced his decision. Musk claimed he was told that his child was at risk of suicide, which contributed to his agreement to the treatment.
Musk argued that such procedures are often performed on minors who cannot legally give consent. He aligned with Peterson’s viewpoint that promoting these procedures is “incredibly evil” and that those advocating for them should face imprisonment. He claimed that he wasn’t informed that puberty blockers essentially serve as sterilization drugs, while noting that puberty blockers do not inherently affect fertility.
Reflecting on his loss, Musk remarked, “I was tricked into doing this. I lost my son, essentially,” referencing the term “deadnaming” as indicative of his loss.
His comments come shortly after announcing that his companies, including Tesla and SpaceX, would relocate to Texas in response to California’s AB1955, or the SAFETY Act. This legislation prohibits schools from implementing rules that require parent notification if a child identifies as transgender while mandating the State Department to support LGBTQ+ youth.
Musk’s relationship with his daughter has deteriorated over the years; she filed for a name change in 2022, stating in court papers her desire to sever ties with her biological father. Musk has attributed their estrangement to Wilson’s progressive education in Los Angeles, as detailed in Walter Isaacson’s biography of Musk.
In recent times, Musk has shifted from center-left to increasingly right-wing viewpoints, addressing issues such as diversity initiatives, election fraud, and immigration. He recently expressed support for the Republican presidential ticket of former President Donald Trump and Ohio Senator J.D. Vance, both of whom advocate for the oil industry and oppose clean energy initiatives.