Tesla CEO Elon Musk made controversial remarks regarding his estranged 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 desire to “destroy the woke mind virus.” He referred to gender-reassignment surgery as “child mutilation and sterilization,” discussing the situation of his daughter, Vivian Jenna Wilson, who came out as transgender at the age of 16.
Musk mentioned that he felt misled when signing documents regarding his child’s transition, stating, “I was essentially tricked into signing documents for one of my older boys.” He added that he faced significant confusion during the pandemic, noting concerns that his child might consider suicide.
Musk criticized the practice of providing gender-affirming treatments to minors, echoing Peterson’s stance that it is “incredibly evil” and asserting that anyone endorsing such actions should be imprisoned. He claimed that he was not informed that puberty blockers are actually “sterilization drugs,” despite the fact that their use does not directly affect fertility.
In addition, Musk declared, “I lost my son, essentially,” and connected this to the concept of “deadnaming,” describing it as a reflection of his son’s death.
His comments come shortly after he announced that X and SpaceX would relocate to Texas in response to California’s AB1955 SAFETY Act, legislation that restricts schools from alerting parents if their child identifies as transgender and mandates state resources for LGBTQ+ youth. Musk has faced allegations of transphobia and anti-trans rhetoric in the past.
Musk’s daughter had applied for a name change in 2022, expressing that she does not want to be linked to her father, and Musk has attributed their estrangement to her progressive school in Los Angeles. This estrangement is said to inform Musk’s critical views on progressive issues.
Over recent years, Musk has shifted from center-left politics to embrace right-wing perspectives on various topics, including diversity initiatives and immigration. Recently, he endorsed the Republican presidential ticket of former president Donald Trump and Senator J.D. Vance, both of whom support the oil industry and oppose clean energy initiatives.