Tesla CEO Elon Musk recently expressed distress over his estranged transgender daughter, Vivian Jenna Wilson, asserting that she was “killed” after receiving gender-affirming care. During an interview with psychologist and conservative commentator Jordan Peterson, Musk declared his intent to combat what he termed the “woke mind virus.”
Musk, who oversees multiple companies including X, referred to gender-reassignment surgery as “child mutilation and sterilization.” He noted that Wilson, who came out as transgender at the age of 16, underwent gender-affirming care during the pandemic. Musk claimed he was misled into signing legal documents for his daughter, indicating that he was not fully informed about the implications of these decisions amid the confusion created by COVID-19.
He expressed concerns about children being subjected to such procedures at ages below consent, declaring the practice to be “incredibly evil” and suggested imprisonment for those promoting it. Musk stated that he did not understand that puberty blockers are considered sterilization drugs, although puberty blockers do not directly impact fertility.
“I was tricked into doing this,” Musk remarked. “I lost my son, essentially. They call it ‘deadnaming’ for a reason. The reason they call it ‘deadnaming’ is because your son is dead.”
These comments from Musk surfaced shortly after he announced plans for X and SpaceX to relocate their operations from California to Texas, partly in reaction to California’s AB1955, also known as the SAFETY Act. This law prohibits schools from enforcing rules that mandate parental notification if a child identifies as transgender and ensures state support for LGBTQ+ identifying children.
In 2022, Wilson sought a name change and a new birth certificate, asserting that she no longer wished to be associated with Musk in any capacity. Musk has attributed their strained relationship to the influences of her progressive school in Los Angeles, a situation characterized in Walter Isaacson’s biography.
Over the years, Musk has shifted from his once center-left political stance to increasingly align with right-wing viewpoints, particularly on issues related to diversity, election integrity, and immigration. Recently, he endorsed the Republican presidential ticket, which includes former president Donald Trump and Ohio Senator J.D. Vance, both known for their support of traditional energy sources and opposition to clean energy initiatives.