Tesla CEO Elon Musk expressed his distress over his estranged transgender daughter, who he claims was “killed” after undergoing gender-affirming treatment. During an interview with psychologist and conservative commentator Jordan Peterson, Musk promised to “destroy the woke mind virus.” He criticized gender-reassignment surgery, labeling it as “child mutilation and sterilization.” Musk’s daughter, Vivian Jenna Wilson, who came out as transgender at 16 and received gender-affirming care during the pandemic, no longer uses his surname.
Musk claimed he felt misled when he signed documents in support of Wilson’s treatment, suggesting he was unaware of the implications at the time and was influenced by concerns for his child’s mental health amidst the pandemic. He argued that such medical procedures are performed on minors who cannot consent and described it as “incredibly evil,” advocating for imprisonment of those who promote it. Musk shared that he was not informed that puberty blockers could lead to sterilization, although he acknowledged that these drugs do not directly affect fertility.
His statements come shortly after he announced that X and SpaceX would relocate to Texas, influenced by California’s AB1955 legislation. This law prohibits schools from requiring notifications to parents if a child identifies as transgender and mandates that the State Department provide resources to support LGBTQ+ youth. Musk has previously faced accusations of transphobia.
In 2022, Wilson sought a name change and new birth certificate, stating in court that she wished to sever ties with her biological father completely. Musk has attributed the estrangement to the progressive education system in Los Angeles, as noted in Walter Isaacson’s biography of him, which linked his complex relationship with Wilson to his subsequent “anti-woke” views.
Over the past few years, Musk, who was once seen as moderate, has embraced increasingly right-wing rhetoric on various issues, including diversity initiatives and immigration. Recently, he publicly endorsed the Republican presidential campaign of Donald Trump and Ohio Senator J.D. Vance.