Tesla CEO Elon Musk has made controversial remarks about his estranged transgender daughter, claiming she was “killed” after receiving gender-affirming care. During an interview with psychologist and conservative commentator Jordan Peterson, Musk expressed his determination to “destroy the woke mind virus,” while labeling gender-reassignment surgery as “child mutilation and sterilization.” His daughter, Vivian Jenna Wilson, came out as transgender at the age of 16 and underwent gender-affirming care during the pandemic.
Musk stated that he feels he was “tricked” into consenting to the procedures for his daughter, whom he said he believed might be at risk of suicide. He voiced strong opposition to what he sees as medical interventions for children who are not of legal consent age, reiterating Peterson’s sentiment that promoting such treatment should result in imprisonment. Musk also expressed regret over not being informed that puberty blockers can lead to sterilization, despite these drugs not directly affecting fertility.
“I was tricked into doing this,” Musk lamented, adding, “I lost my son, essentially.” He pointed out that the term “deadnaming” accurately reflects his feelings about the situation, as he believes his son no longer exists.
These comments come shortly after Musk announced plans for X and SpaceX to relocate to Texas, in response to California’s AB1955, known as the SAFETY Act, which prohibits schools from notifying parents if their child identifies as transgender while also requiring state support for LGBTQ+ youth. Musk has faced accusations of transphobia and promoting anti-transgender narratives in the past.
In 2022, Musk’s daughter applied for a legal name change and sought a new birth certificate, indicating that she does not wish to be associated with her biological father. According to biographer Walter Isaacson, Musk has attributed the distance in their relationship to Wilson’s progressive education in Los Angeles.
Recently, Musk, whose political stance has shifted significantly from center-left to right-wing viewpoints, has endorsed the Republican presidential ticket led by former President Donald Trump and Ohio Senator J.D. Vance, both of whom advocate for the oil industry and oppose clean energy initiatives.