Tesla CEO Elon Musk recently made controversial statements regarding his estranged transgender daughter, claiming she was “killed” after receiving gender-affirming care. During an interview with psychologist and conservative commentator Jordan Peterson, Musk expressed a desire to “destroy the woke mind virus,” referring to gender-reassignment surgery as “child mutilation and sterilization.”
Musk discussed his daughter, Vivian Jenna Wilson, who transitioned during the pandemic and publicly came out as transgender at 16. He revealed that he felt misled into signing documents related to her care, stating, “I was essentially tricked into signing documents for one of my older boys.” Musk noted that he was concerned about Wilson’s mental health during a time of confusion surrounding COVID-19.
He criticized the process of providing gender-affirming care to minors, asserting that it is done to children who do not have the capacity to give informed consent. Musk aligned with Peterson’s views that such practices are “incredibly evil” and suggested that individuals who promote them should face imprisonment. He claimed he was not adequately informed about puberty blockers, which he described as “sterilization drugs,” though medical evidence indicates they do not directly affect fertility.
Musk claimed, “I was tricked into doing this. I lost my son, essentially,” referring to the concept of “deadnaming” which he believes signifies a loss.
His remarks came shortly after announcing relocations of his companies, including Tesla and SpaceX, to Texas, citing opposition to California’s SAFETY Act, which affects how schools manage transgender students. Critics have previously accused Musk of promoting anti-trans messaging.
Vivian Jenna Wilson applied for a name change in 2022, stating in court that she wishes to sever ties with her father. Musk has linked the estrangement to her education in a progressive school, as noted in Walter Isaacson’s biography of the CEO. In recent years, Musk has shifted from his once center-left political views to embrace more right-wing positions on various topics, recently endorsing the Republican presidential candidates including former president Donald Trump.