Tesla CEO Elon Musk recently expressed strong criticism of gender-affirming care for minors during an interview with psychologist and conservative commentator Jordan Peterson. Musk described his estranged transgender daughter as having been “killed” by the care she received and vowed to combat what he termed the “woke mind virus.”
Musk’s comments, which aired Monday, included assertions that gender-reassignment surgery amounts to “child mutilation and sterilization.” His daughter, Vivian Jenna Wilson, who publicly came out as transgender at 16 and no longer uses his last name, received gender-affirming care during the pandemic.
He stated that he felt misled into signing documents for one of his older children, citing confusion during the COVID-19 crisis and concerns about potential suicide. Musk argued that such medical interventions are conducted on children well below the age of consent, and he called the promotion of these practices “incredibly evil,” suggesting that those who support them should face imprisonment.
Musk, a father of twelve, claimed he was not adequately informed that puberty blockers could lead to sterilization, a statement that has drawn scrutiny since puberty blockers themselves do not directly affect fertility. He lamented, “I was tricked into doing this. I lost my son, essentially,” referring to the concept of “deadnaming.”
These remarks come amid Musk’s recent announcement that his companies, including X and SpaceX, will move their operations from California to Texas, partly in response to California’s AB1955 legislation. This law prohibits schools from requiring parental notification when a child identifies as transgender and mandates state resources for support of LGBTQ+ children. Musk has faced accusations of transphobia and anti-trans sentiment in the past.
In 2022, Musk’s daughter sought a name change and a new birth certificate, expressing her desire to sever ties with him entirely. According to Walter Isaacson’s biography, Musk attributes the distance in their relationship to the progressive environment of her school, suggesting that it has influenced her perspectives and, by extension, his own anti-woke expressions.
Musk’s political stance has shifted significantly in recent years, moving from center-left to adopting many right-wing viewpoints, including those related to immigration and diversity initiatives. Recently, he endorsed the Republican presidential ticket featuring former President Donald Trump and Ohio Senator J.D. Vance, both known for their support of the oil industry and opposition to clean energy initiatives.