Tesla CEO Elon Musk recently made controversial remarks regarding his estranged transgender daughter, claiming that she was “killed” after receiving gender-affirming care, and he expressed his intention to “destroy the woke mind virus.” Musk’s statements were made during an interview with psychologist and conservative commentator Jordan Peterson.
In the interview, Musk characterized gender-reassignment surgery as “child mutilation and sterilization,” sharing that his daughter, Vivian Jenna Wilson, began her transition and received gender-affirming care during the pandemic at the age of 16. He indicated that he felt misled when he signed documents regarding her care, suggesting that the fear of suicide, which he was told was a possibility, influenced his decision.
Musk criticized the process of providing such care to minors who are not of legal consent age, agreeing with Peterson that it is “incredibly evil” and suggested that those who promote it should face imprisonment. He also expressed that he was not adequately informed about puberty blockers, claiming they were explained to him as sterilization drugs, although puberty blockers do not directly affect fertility.
Musk lamented the loss of his relationship with his daughter, stating, “I lost my son, essentially,” and referred to the term “deadnaming” as indicative of his feelings about his child’s transition.
These comments come shortly after Musk announced that his companies, including X and SpaceX, would relocate to Texas, citing California’s AB1955, or the SAFETY Act, which restricts schools from notifying parents if their child identifies as transgender and mandates state resources to support LGBTQ+ youth. Musk has previously faced accusations of transphobia and promoting anti-trans narratives.
In 2022, Wilson applied for a name change and requested a new birth certificate, expressing her desire to no longer be connected to her biological father. Musk has attributed their strained relationship to her progressive education in Los Angeles, as noted in Walter Isaacson’s biography of him. This strained familial dynamic seems to underpin Musk’s emerging anti-woke rhetoric.
Musk, who previously held center-left political views, has increasingly adopted right-wing positions on various issues, including diversity, election integrity, and immigration. Recently, he also declared his support for the Republican presidential ticket featuring former President Donald Trump and Ohio Senator J.D. Vance, both of whom advocate for the oil industry and oppose clean energy initiatives.