Tesla CEO Elon Musk recently stated that he feels his estranged transgender daughter was “killed” after receiving gender-affirming care, prompting him to declare a commitment to “destroy the woke mind virus.”
Musk made these comments during an interview with psychologist and conservative commentator Jordan Peterson, in which he referred to gender-reassignment surgery as “child mutilation and sterilization.” He revealed that his daughter, Vivian Jenna Wilson, began receiving gender-affirming care during the pandemic and came out as transgender at the age of 16.
Musk expressed regret over signing documents for his daughter, stating, “I was essentially tricked into signing documents for one of my older boys.” He explained that this took place during a confusing time marked by the COVID-19 pandemic, and he was concerned about the potential for his child to consider suicide.
He further criticized the procedures conducted on minors, stating that he agrees with Peterson on the issue, calling it “incredibly evil,” and suggested that those who endorse such practices should face imprisonment. Musk, a father of 12, claimed he was not informed that puberty blockers, which are often part of gender-affirming care, could act as sterilization drugs, although puberty blockers themselves do not directly cause infertility.
Musk lamented, “I was tricked into doing this. I lost my son, essentially,” referencing the term “deadnaming,” which he feels illustrates the loss he experienced.
His remarks come shortly after he announced that his companies, including X and SpaceX, would relocate to Texas in light of California’s AB1955—legislation that prohibits schools from enforcing rules requiring parental notification if a child identifies as transgender and mandates resources for LGBTQ+ youth. Musk has faced criticism in the past for accusations of transphobia.
In 2022, his daughter sought a name change and a new birth certificate, expressing in court documents that she wished to sever ties with Musk entirely. According to Walter Isaacson’s biography, Musk attributes the estrangement to his daughter’s progressive school in Los Angeles, suggesting that his troubled relationship with Wilson has influenced his anti-woke rhetoric.
Over recent years, Musk has shifted from his previously center-left political stance towards increasingly right-wing views on various issues, including diversity programs, election fraud, and immigration. He recently endorsed the Republican presidential ticket of former President Donald Trump and Ohio Senator J.D. Vance, both supporters of the oil industry and critics of clean energy initiatives.