Tesla CEO Elon Musk claimed that his transgender daughter was “killed” after she underwent gender-affirming care and stated his intention to “destroy the woke mind virus.” His comments were made during an interview with psychologist and conservative commentator Jordan Peterson.
Musk described gender-reassignment surgery as “child mutilation and sterilization,” expressing concern over his daughter, Vivian Jenna Wilson, who came out as transgender at the age of 16 and received gender-affirming care during the pandemic. He mentioned feeling misled into signing documents related to his son’s decision, emphasizing that there was significant confusion during the COVID-19 pandemic and stating that he was informed his child might be suicidal.
He criticized the practice of allowing children to undergo such procedures, asserting that they are often applied to those who are below the age of consent. Musk echoed Peterson’s viewpoint, declaring the promotion of these treatments as “incredibly evil” and suggesting that those advocating for them should face imprisonment. Musk also stated that he was not informed that puberty blockers could lead to sterilization, despite indications that these drugs do not necessarily affect fertility.
Musk expressed feelings of loss regarding his son, who he believes has been “killed” by the process and highlighted the emotional weight of the term “deadnaming.”
These remarks follow Musk’s announcement that X and SpaceX would be relocating to Texas in response to California’s AB1955, or the SAFETY Act, which restricts school policies regarding parental notification for transgender identification and compels the State Department to offer resources to support LGBTQ+ children. Musk has faced accusations of promoting anti-trans rhetoric in the past.
In 2022, Musk’s daughter requested a name change and new birth certificate, stating she no longer wished to be associated with her biological father. Musk has attributed their fractured relationship to the liberal environment of her school, as noted in Walter Isaacson’s biography, which suggests that this estrangement is driving Musk’s anti-woke sentiments.
Once known for his moderate political views, Musk has progressively adopted more right-leaning perspectives on various issues, including diversity, election integrity, and immigration. Recently, he endorsed the Republican presidential ticket of former President Donald Trump and Ohio Senator J.D. Vance, both of whom are proponents of the oil industry and oppose clean energy initiatives.