Tesla CEO Elon Musk recently made controversial remarks regarding his transgender daughter, claiming that she was “killed” after undergoing gender-affirming care. During an interview with psychologist and conservative commentator Jordan Peterson, which aired on Monday, Musk expressed a desire to “destroy the woke mind virus” and referred to gender-reassignment surgery as “child mutilation and sterilization.”
Musk revealed that his daughter, Vivian Jenna Wilson, came out as transgender at the age of 16 after receiving gender-affirming care during the pandemic. He stated, “I was essentially tricked into signing documents for one of my older boys,” referring to Wilson, who has since distanced herself from him by not using his last name. Musk claimed that he was misled about the situation and worried about his child’s mental health during a confusing time exacerbated by COVID-19.
He argued against treating children who are below the age of consent with puberty blockers, which he condemned as a form of sterilization, contending that he was unaware of their implications. Musk elaborated, “I was tricked into doing this. I lost my son, essentially. They call it ‘deadnaming’ for a reason. The reason they call it ‘deadnaming’ is because your son is dead.”
These statements from Musk come shortly after he announced that his companies, including Tesla and SpaceX, would relocate to Texas. This move follows California’s AB1955, also known as the SAFETY Act, which prohibits schools from masking parental notifications about children identifying as transgender and mandates state support for LGBTQ+ youth. Critics have accused Musk of promoting transphobia and anti-trans messages.
In 2022, Wilson sought a legal name change and new birth certificate, specifying her desire to sever ties with her biological father. According to biographer Walter Isaacson, this strained relationship has influenced Musk’s stance on various issues, framing much of his recent rhetoric as stemming from personal grievances.
Musk, who has shifted his political views from center-left to increasingly right-wing positions, has recently endorsed the Republican presidential candidates Donald Trump and Ohio Senator J.D. Vance, who advocate for the oil industry and oppose clean energy initiatives.