Tesla’s CEO Elon Musk recently made controversial remarks regarding his transgender daughter, Vivian Jenna Wilson, claiming that she was “killed” after receiving gender-affirming care. He expressed his intent to “destroy the woke mind virus” during an interview with psychologist and conservative commentator Jordan Peterson.
Musk described gender-reassignment surgery as “child mutilation and sterilization,” and he recalled that his daughter came out as transgender at the age of 16 after receiving gender-affirming care during the pandemic. He stated that he felt misled into signing documents related to his child’s care, noting the confusion caused by the COVID-19 situation at the time.
The CEO expressed his belief that the medical procedures are being performed on children who are not of legal age to consent. He voiced agreement with Peterson, stating that promoting such treatments should be punishable by imprisonment. Musk, a father of 12, argued that he was not adequately informed that puberty blockers are effectively sterilization drugs, even though these blockers alone do not impact fertility.
Musk reflected on his personal loss, using the term “deadnaming” to illustrate what he feels is the death of his son due to the transition. His comments come shortly after he announced that X and SpaceX plans to relocate to Texas, influenced by California’s AB1955, which restricts parental notification regarding a child’s transgender identity and mandates state support for LGBTQ+ youth.
Musk’s daughter sought a name change and new birth certificate in 2022, stating in court documents her desire to sever all ties with her biological father. Musk has previously attributed their strained relationship to her progressive education in Los Angeles, a point noted in Walter Isaacson’s biography on Musk. This strained relationship has been suggested as a factor behind Musk’s growing “anti-woke” sentiment.
Over recent years, Musk has shifted from centrist political views to increasingly aligning with right-wing positions on various issues, including diversity, election integrity, and immigration. Most recently, he endorsed the Republican presidential ticket featuring former President Donald Trump and Ohio Senator J.D. Vance, both of whom support the oil industry and oppose clean energy initiatives.