Tesla CEO Elon Musk recently made controversial comments about his estranged transgender daughter, claiming she was “killed” after receiving gender-affirming care, and vowed to “destroy the woke mind virus.”
Musk’s remarks were made during an interview with psychologist and conservative commentator Jordan Peterson that aired on Monday. He described gender-reassignment surgery as “child mutilation and sterilization,” adding that his daughter, Vivian Jenna Wilson, received gender-affirming care during the pandemic and came out as transgender at the age of 16.
He expressed feeling misled about his daughter’s transition, stating, “I was essentially tricked into signing documents for one of my older boys.” He noted that the situation was compounded by the confusion of the COVID pandemic, with concerns raised about Wilson’s mental health.
Musk criticized the practice of providing medical care to minors, stating that it is “incredibly evil” and suggested that those who promote such actions should face imprisonment. He claimed he was not properly informed that puberty blockers, often prescribed for transgender youth, could act as sterilization drugs, although it should be noted that puberty blockers do not directly cause infertility.
He lamented his estrangement from Wilson, saying, “I lost my son, essentially,” and referred to the term ‘deadnaming’ to explain the emotional impact of his daughter’s transition.
These comments come after Musk announced plans for his companies, including X and SpaceX, to relocate to Texas largely due to California’s SAFETY Act, which aims to protect LGBTQ+ children in schools. He has faced prior accusations of promoting anti-trans messaging.
Wilson sought a name change and requested a new birth certificate last year, stating in court documents her desire to dissociate from her biological father entirely. Musk has attributed their strained relationship to the influence of her progressive school in Los Angeles, which he believes has fueled his anti-woke sentiments.
In recent years, Musk has shifted away from his historically center-left political stance to adopt right-wing views on various issues, including diversity and immigration policies. Earlier this month, he endorsed the Republican presidential ticket featuring former President Donald Trump and Ohio Senator J.D. Vance, both of whom support the oil industry while opposing clean energy initiatives.