Tesla’s CEO Elon Musk claimed that his estranged transgender daughter, Vivian Jenna Wilson, was negatively impacted by receiving gender-affirming care, describing the experience as akin to being “killed.” During a recent interview with psychologist Jordan Peterson, Musk expressed his opposition to gender-reassignment surgery, referring to it as “child mutilation and sterilization.”
Musk revealed that his daughter came out as transgender at the age of 16 and had received gender-affirming care during the pandemic. He stated he felt misled into supporting her transition, mentioning that he had signed documents without fully understanding the implications at the time, particularly against the backdrop of the COVID crisis. He expressed concern for her well-being, suggesting he was told she might commit suicide.
During the interview, Musk criticized the practice of providing such care to minors who are below the age of consent, citing agreement with Peterson that it is “incredibly evil” and advocating for imprisonment of those promoting it. Musk insisted that the effects of puberty blockers were not adequately explained to him, insisting they can lead to sterilization, though it is known that puberty blockers do not directly affect fertility.
Musk’s comments were made shortly after he announced a decision for several of his companies, including X and SpaceX, to relocate to Texas due to the state’s new legislation known as AB1955, which seeks to protect the rights of transgender students. Musk has faced previous accusations of transphobia and has been criticized for promoting anti-trans rhetoric.
In 2022, Wilson legally changed her name and sought new identification documents, stating she did not wish to be associated with her biological father. Musk has attributed this estrangement to his daughter’s education at a progressive school in Los Angeles, which he believes has influenced her views and distance from him.
Over the past few years, Musk’s political stance has shifted from center-left to incorporating more right-wing ideologies, including a recent endorsement of the Republican ticket led by Donald Trump and Ohio Senator J.D. Vance, both of whom oppose clean energy initiatives.