Tesla CEO Elon Musk claimed during an interview with psychologist Jordan Peterson that his transgender daughter was “killed” following her gender-affirming care. He expressed his intent to “destroy the woke mind virus” in response to the situation.
Musk, who oversees several companies including X, referred to gender-reassignment surgery as “child mutilation and sterilization.” He revealed that his daughter, Vivian Jenna Wilson, received gender-affirming care amid the pandemic and identified as transgender at the age of 16.
He stated, “I was essentially tricked into signing documents for one of my older boys,” speaking about Wilson, who has since distanced herself from Musk’s last name. He emphasized that this decision was made without his full understanding, exacerbated by the confusion of the COVID-19 pandemic and fears for his child’s mental health.
Musk criticized the process of administering gender-affirming treatments to minors who he feels are too young to consent. He agreed with Peterson that promoting such care is “incredibly evil” and suggested that proponents should face imprisonment. Musk, who has 12 children, mentioned that he was never informed about puberty blockers being sterilization drugs, although the use of puberty blockers alone does not typically affect fertility.
“I was tricked into doing this,” Musk lamented. “I lost my son, essentially. They call it ‘deadnaming’ for a reason. The reason they call it ‘deadnaming’ is because your son is dead.”
This discussion followed Musk’s announcement that X and SpaceX would relocate to Texas, in part due to California’s AB1955 SAFETY Act, which prohibits schools from requiring parental notifications when a child identifies as transgender. Musk has faced accusations of transphobia and promoting anti-trans messages.
In 2022, Musk’s daughter sought a legal name change and requested a new birth certificate, stating she did not wish to be associated with her biological father. According to biographer Walter Isaacson, Musk has attributed his distant relationship with Wilson to the progressive school she attended in Los Angeles, linking it to his “anti-woke sentiments.”
Once known for his center-left stance, Musk has increasingly adopted right-wing viewpoints on various issues, including diversity, election integrity, and immigration. Earlier this month, he publicly endorsed the Republican presidential ticket featuring former President Donald Trump and Ohio Senator J.D. Vance.