Tesla CEO Elon Musk claimed that his estranged transgender daughter was “killed” following her gender-affirming care, which prompted him to assert his intention to “destroy the woke mind virus.”
During an interview with psychologist and conservative commentator Jordan Peterson, Musk described gender-reassignment surgery as “child mutilation and sterilization.” He mentioned that his daughter, Vivian Jenna Wilson, accessed gender-affirming care during the pandemic and came out as transgender at the age of 16.
Musk expressed regret about signing documents for Wilson, who has since changed her last name. He stated, “This was really before I had any understanding of what was going on,” adding that there was considerable confusion due to the COVID-19 situation and concerns that his child might attempt suicide.
He criticized the procedure for being performed on children who are “far below the age of consent” and echoed Peterson’s assertion that promoting such care is “incredibly evil” and should warrant imprisonment for those advocating it. Musk, who has 12 children and often discusses issues of fertility and population decline, claimed he was not informed that puberty blockers function as “sterilization drugs.” However, puberty blockers alone do not impact fertility.
“I was tricked into doing this,” Musk stated. “I lost my son, essentially,” referring to the concept of “deadnaming” as a reason why he feels his child is no longer living as his son.
Musk’s remarks surfaced shortly after he revealed that X and SpaceX would relocate to Texas, joining Tesla in response to California’s AB1955, or the SAFETY Act. This legislation prohibits schools from requiring parental notification if a student identifies as transgender and mandates the State Department to provide resources for LGBTQ+ youth. Musk has faced repeated accusations of transphobia and promoting anti-trans rhetoric in the past.
In 2022, his daughter applied for a name change and requested a new birth certificate, stating in court documents that she does not want to be “related to my biological father in any way.” Musk has attributed the estrangement to her progressive school in Los Angeles, as detailed in Walter Isaacson’s biography. Isaacson noted that Musk’s strained relationship with Wilson contributes to his “anti-woke sentiments.”
In recent years, Musk has shifted from his previous center-left political views to embrace more right-wing perspectives on issues like diversity initiatives, election fraud, and immigration. Earlier this month, he expressed support for the Republican presidential candidates, including former president Donald Trump and Ohio Senator J.D. Vance, who both advocate for the oil industry and oppose clean energy initiatives.