Tesla CEO Elon Musk recently made headlines with controversial remarks regarding his estranged daughter, Vivian Jenna Wilson, who has publicly identified as transgender. During an interview with psychologist Jordan Peterson, Musk claimed that gender-affirming care had a detrimental impact on his daughter, stating that it amounted to “child mutilation and sterilization.” He expressed that he felt deceived into signing documents related to her gender transition at a time when he was unaware of the full implications and the challenges posed by the pandemic.
Musk alleged that the decision to allow his daughter to undergo gender-affirming care was influenced by concerns over her mental health, with claims that she might have been at risk of suicide. He emphasized his belief that such medical interventions should not be applied to children who are below the age of consent and agreed with Peterson that advocating for these treatments is “incredibly evil,” suggesting that those who do so should face imprisonment. Musk also mentioned that he was unaware that puberty blockers could be classified as sterilization drugs.
Adding to his emotional perspective, Musk shared feelings of loss regarding his son’s identity, implying that the term “deadnaming” reflects a profound sense of grief for him. His comments come shortly after he announced the relocation of his companies, including Tesla and SpaceX, to Texas, a move he attributed to California’s legislation concerning transgender youth and parental notification.
Musk’s daughter has previously sought legal recognition of her name change and expressed in court that she wishes to sever ties with her biological father. He has attributed their estrangement to the influence of her progressive school environment. This public discourse occurs against a backdrop of Musk’s noticeable shift towards right-wing political narratives, with an increased focus on opposition to topics like diversity initiatives and clean energy. Recently, he endorsed a Republican presidential ticket, marking a significant departure from his earlier political stances.