Tesla CEO Elon Musk has made controversial remarks regarding his transgender daughter, claiming that she was “killed” following gender-affirming care, which he believes contributes to the spread of what he terms the “woke mind virus.”
These comments were shared during an interview with psychologist and conservative commentator Jordan Peterson. Musk, who leads multiple companies including X, described gender-reassignment surgery as “child mutilation and sterilization.” He mentioned that his daughter, Vivian Jenna Wilson, came out as transgender at 16 and received gender-affirming care during the pandemic.
Musk revealed that he felt he was misled into signing documents concerning Wilson’s care, citing a time of confusion and a warning that she might attempt suicide. He criticized the practice of administering such procedures to children who have not reached the age of consent, echoing Peterson’s assertions that it is “incredibly evil” and asserting that advocates for it should face imprisonment. Musk also claimed he was unaware that puberty blockers could be classified as sterilization drugs, although it is known that puberty blockers do not directly affect fertility.
“I was tricked into doing this,” Musk stated. “I lost my son, essentially. They call it ‘deadnaming’ for a reason. The reason they call it ‘deadnaming’ is because your son is dead.”
Musk’s statements follow his decision to relocate the headquarters of X and SpaceX to Texas, aligning with his criticism of California’s AB1955, known as the SAFETY Act. This legislation prohibits schools from mandating parent notification when a child identifies as transgender and requires state resources to support LGBTQ+ youth. Musk has faced multiple accusations of transphobia and promoting anti-trans rhetoric in recent years.
In 2022, Wilson sought a legal name change and requested a new birth certificate, stating she wished to sever all ties with her biological father. Musk attributes his strained relationship with Wilson to the influence of her progressive school in Los Angeles, as suggested in Walter Isaacson’s biography of Musk. This estrangement is said to have influenced Musk’s growing anti-woke sentiments.
Historically known for his center-left political views, Musk has increasingly adopted right-wing positions on various issues, including diversity initiatives and immigration. Earlier this month, he endorsed the Republican presidential ticket of former president Donald Trump and Ohio Senator J.D. Vance, both of whom are advocates for the oil industry and oppose clean energy initiatives.