Tesla CEO Elon Musk made headlines after sharing his views on gender-affirming care during an interview with psychologist and conservative commentator Jordan Peterson. He claimed that his estranged transgender daughter was “killed” due to the care she received, stating that it has led him to a commitment to “destroy the woke mind virus.”
Musk described gender-reassignment surgery as “child mutilation and sterilization.” He revealed that his daughter, Vivian Jenna Wilson, who came out as transgender at 16 and no longer uses his last name, received gender-affirming care during the pandemic. Musk expressed that he felt misled when he signed documents related to her care, asserting that he was driven by concerns for her mental health amid fears that she might consider suicide.
He criticized the age at which these procedures are performed, stating that they are carried out on minors who cannot give consent. Musk echoed Peterson’s sentiment, labeling such practices as “incredibly evil,” and called for imprisonment of those who advocate for them. He claimed he was unaware that puberty blockers could be considered sterilization drugs, although these medications do not inherently affect fertility.
Musk stated, “I was tricked into doing this. I lost my son, essentially,” referring to the concept of “deadnaming,” which he believes is indicative of losing one’s child.
These comments come shortly after Musk announced that X and SpaceX, in addition to Tesla, would relocate to Texas, influenced by California’s AB1955, also known as the SAFETY Act. This legislation restricts schools from requiring parental notification when a child identifies as transgender and compels the state to provide support for LGBTQ+ youth. Musk has faced accusations of promoting anti-trans narratives in the past.
In 2022, Wilson applied for a name change and a new birth certificate, stating in court that she wishes to sever ties with her biological father. Musk has attributed the rift in their relationship to her progressive schooling in Los Angeles, as noted in Walter Isaacson’s biography. Isaacson posits that this estrangement informs Musk’s current anti-woke rhetoric.
Over recent years, Musk has shifted from his previous center-left political stance to adopt more right-wing viewpoints, particularly regarding issues of diversity, election fraud, and immigration. Earlier this month, he endorsed the Republican presidential candidates, former President Donald Trump and Ohio Senator J.D. Vance, both known advocates for the oil industry and opponents of clean energy initiatives.