Tesla CEO Elon Musk has made controversial remarks about his estranged transgender daughter, claiming that she was “killed” after receiving gender-affirming care. During an interview with psychologist and conservative figure Jordan Peterson, Musk expressed a desire to “destroy the woke mind virus” and labeled gender-reassignment surgery as “child mutilation and sterilization.”
Musk revealed that his daughter, Vivian Jenna Wilson, underwent gender-affirming care during the pandemic and came out as transgender at the age of 16. He recounted feeling “tricked” into signing documents for her treatment, highlighting that he was misled about the implications, particularly in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic and concerns about her mental health.
He criticized the idea of such medical procedures being available to minors, agreeing with Peterson that it is “incredibly evil” and asserting that those promoting it should face imprisonment. Musk claimed he was not informed that puberty blockers are akin to “sterilization drugs,” despite evidence indicating that puberty blockers do not directly affect fertility.
Musk said, “I lost my son, essentially,” referring to his daughter’s decision to change her name and distance herself from him. He also linked his views on these issues to his relationship with Wilson, suggesting that their estrangement is a factor in his growing anti-woke sentiments.
These comments come shortly after Musk announced that his companies, including X and SpaceX, would relocate to Texas in response to California’s SAFETY Act, which limits school policies regarding parental notification when a child identifies as transgender. Musk has faced accusations of transphobia in the past and has seen a shift in his political views from center-left to a more right-leaning stance, recently endorsing former President Donald Trump and Senator J.D. Vance.