Tesla CEO Elon Musk recently made controversial remarks regarding his transgender daughter, claiming that she was “killed” after receiving gender-affirming care. During an interview with psychologist and conservative commentator Jordan Peterson, Musk expressed his commitment to “destroy the woke mind virus,” while criticizing gender-reassignment surgery, labeling it “child mutilation and sterilization.”
Musk stated that his daughter, Vivian Jenna Wilson, who came out as transgender at 16, had received gender-affirming care during the pandemic. He shared that he felt misled into signing documents without fully understanding the implications, particularly in light of the pressure he felt during COVID-19.
He criticized the medical practices surrounding gender-transition for minors, asserting that they are performed on individuals “far below the age of consent,” and echoed Peterson’s sentiments that such actions are “incredibly evil.” Musk claimed that he was unaware that puberty blockers were essentially sterilization drugs, although it is noted that puberty blockers do not inherently impact fertility.
Musk expressed a sense of loss, stating, “I lost my son, essentially,” referring to the practice of “deadnaming.” He has been vocal about his objections to California’s recent legislation aimed at supporting transgender youth, which has prompted his decision to relocate his companies, including Tesla, to Texas.
In 2022, Wilson applied for a name change and a new birth certificate, indicating her desire to sever ties with Musk entirely. He has attributed their estrangement to her education in a progressive school, and according to biographer Walter Isaacson, this strained relationship has fueled Musk’s “anti-woke” rhetoric.
In recent years, Musk has shifted from his previous center-left political stance to adopting more right-leaning views on issues such as diversity and immigration. This month, he endorsed the Republican presidential ticket of Donald Trump and Ohio Senator J.D. Vance, both of whom support the oil industry and oppose clean energy initiatives.