Tesla CEO Elon Musk made controversial remarks regarding his daughter, Vivian Jenna Wilson, who he claims was “killed” after receiving gender-affirming care. Musk expressed his resolve to combat what he calls the “woke mind virus” during an interview with psychologist and conservative commentator Jordan Peterson.
Musk criticized gender-reassignment surgery, referring to it as “child mutilation and sterilization.” He recounted that his daughter came out as transgender at the age of 16 and underwent gender-affirming care during the pandemic. He stated, “I was essentially tricked into signing documents for one of my older boys,” emphasizing confusion surrounding the situation amidst the COVID-19 crisis.
According to Musk, he was concerned for his daughter’s wellbeing, as he reportedly received warnings that she might considering suicide. He expressed his belief that children who are below the age of consent should not undergo such medical procedures, agreeing with Peterson that promoting these practices is “incredibly evil” and should merit imprisonment for advocates.
Musk claimed he was misinformed about the nature of puberty blockers, insisting that he was not told they essentially act as sterilization drugs, despite the fact that puberty blockers alone do not permanently affect fertility. He lamented, “I was tricked into doing this. I lost my son, essentially,” referencing the term “deadnaming” used in the transgender community to describe using a person’s birth name after they have transitioned.
These comments follow Musk’s announcement that his companies, including X and SpaceX, will move to Texas in response to California’s AB1955, legislation that limits parental notification regarding a child’s transgender identity in schools and supports LGBTQ+ youth resources. Musk has faced accusations of transphobia and promoting anti-trans messaging in the past.
Wilson, who applied for a name change and new birth certificate in 2022, expressed in court documents her desire to dissociate completely from her father. Musk has attributed the estrangement to Wilson’s progressive education in Los Angeles, a dynamic that Walter Isaacson’s biography suggests has influenced Musk’s anti-woke views.
Over recent years, Musk has transitioned from center-left political views to increasingly align with right-wing ideologies, expressing controversial opinions on various topics, including diversity initiatives and election matters. He has recently endorsed former President Donald Trump and Ohio Senator J.D. Vance, both advocates of the fossil fuel industry and skeptics of clean energy initiatives.