Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla, recently made controversial remarks about his estranged transgender daughter, claiming she was “killed” by the gender-affirming care she received, which he described as “child mutilation and sterilization.” These comments were made during a Monday interview with psychologist and conservative commentator Jordan Peterson.
Musk stated that his daughter, Vivian Jenna Wilson, came out as transgender at 16 and underwent gender-affirming care amid the pandemic. He expressed regret over signing documents related to her care, suggesting he was misled during a time of confusion due to COVID-19. Musk indicated that he was told Wilson might be at risk of suicide, which influenced his decisions.
He criticized the administration of such treatment to minors, expressing agreement with Peterson that it is “incredibly evil” and called for legal repercussions for those who promote it. Musk, who has twelve children, claimed he was not aware that puberty blockers function as sterilization drugs, despite the scientific consensus that puberty blockers alone do not directly affect fertility.
“I was tricked into doing this,” Musk lamented, emphasizing a sense of loss regarding his relationship with his child, whom he claims he has essentially lost. He suggested that the term “deadnaming” reflects a deep personal loss, implying that his son is “dead” to him.
These statements from Musk come shortly after his announcement that his companies, including X and SpaceX, would be relocating to Texas due to California’s legislation, AB1955, the SAFETY Act, which limits parental notifications related to children’s gender identity in schools. Musk has faced accusations of promoting anti-trans sentiments in the past.
Wilson applied for a name change and a new birth certificate in 2022, stating she no longer wishes to be associated with her biological father. Musk has attributed their estrangement to the influence of her progressive school in Los Angeles, as noted in Walter Isaacson’s biography of the entrepreneur, which links his relationship issues with anti-woke sentiments.
In a striking political shift, Musk, who was once seen as center-left, has increasingly adopted right-wing views on various issues, endorsing the Republican presidential ticket of former President Donald Trump and Ohio Senator J.D. Vance, who both advocate for the oil industry and oppose clean energy initiatives.