Tesla CEO Elon Musk recently spoke out about his estranged transgender daughter, asserting that she was “killed” after undergoing gender-affirming care. During an interview with psychologist and conservative commentator Jordan Peterson, which aired Monday, Musk described gender-reassignment surgery as “child mutilation and sterilization.”
Musk revealed that his daughter, Vivian Jenna Wilson, who came out as transgender at 16, received gender-affirming care during the COVID-19 pandemic. He expressed feelings of being misled when he signed documents related to her care. “I was essentially tricked into signing documents for one of my older boys,” Musk stated, addressing Wilson, who has since distanced herself from his last name. He added that he had been concerned about her mental health and was warned she might attempt suicide.
Musk claimed that children who are below the age of consent receive such treatments and echoed Peterson’s sentiments by labeling the practice as “incredibly evil,” advocating for the imprisonment of advocates for gender-affirming procedures. Musk, who is a father to 12 children, also asserted that he was never informed that puberty blockers act as sterilization drugs, although they do not directly affect fertility on their own.
“I was tricked into doing this,” Musk said, lamenting the loss of his son. He further commented on the term “deadnaming,” stating, “The reason they call it ‘deadnaming’ is because your son is dead.”
Musk’s remarks follow his announcement that his companies, including X and SpaceX, will move their operations to Texas, partially due to California’s AB1955, known as the SAFETY Act. This legislation prohibits schools from mandating that parents be informed if their child identifies as transgender and requires state resources for LGBTQ+ identifying children. Musk has faced accusations of promoting transphobia and anti-trans messaging in the past.
In 2022, Wilson applied for a name change and new birth certificate, asserting in court that she no longer wishes to be connected to her biological father. According to biographer Walter Isaacson, Musk attributes the estrangement from his daughter to her liberal education in Los Angeles, suggesting that it has fueled his “anti-woke sentiments.”
Over the years, Musk has shifted from his previously moderate political views towards increasingly right-wing positions on issues such as diversity, election integrity, and immigration. Earlier this month, he publicly endorsed the Republican presidential ticket, supporting former President Donald Trump and Ohio Senator J.D. Vance, both of whom advocate for the oil industry and oppose clean energy initiatives.