Tesla CEO Elon Musk recently made controversial remarks about his transgender daughter during an interview with psychologist and conservative commentator Jordan Peterson, asserting that she was “killed” after undergoing gender-affirming care. Musk expressed his intention to “destroy the woke mind virus,” while criticizing gender-reassignment surgery, referring to it as “child mutilation and sterilization.”
Musk discussed his daughter, Vivian Jenna Wilson, who came out as transgender at the age of 16 and received gender-affirming treatment during the pandemic. He stated that he felt misled into signing documents regarding his daughter’s care, attributing his decisions to the confusion of the pandemic and the fear that she might attempt suicide.
He accused the medical process of being harmful to minors who are not of consenting age and shared his agreement with Peterson that it is “incredibly evil,” suggesting that those who promote such care should face imprisonment. Musk, who has a total of 12 children, claimed that he was not made aware that puberty blockers are equivalent to sterilization drugs, though the use of puberty blockers alone does not cause infertility.
Musk lamented the emotional impact of the situation, expressing that he feels as though he has lost his son. He highlighted the term “deadnaming” and its significance, stating, “the reason they call it ‘deadnaming’ is because your son is dead.”
These comments follow Musk’s announcement that companies under his leadership, including X and SpaceX, would relocate to Texas due to California’s AB1955, also known as the SAFETY Act. This legislation prohibits schools from mandating parental notification if a student identifies as transgender and provides state resources for LGBTQ+ youth. Musk has faced accusations of transphobia and anti-trans rhetoric in the past.
In 2022, Musk’s daughter sought a name change and a new birth certificate, stating in court filings her desire to no longer be associated with her biological father. According to Walter Isaacson’s biography of Musk, the strained relationship stems from her experiences at a progressive school in Los Angeles, which he attributes to his growing “anti-woke” stance.
In recent years, Musk, who was once regarded as having moderate political views, has increasingly adopted right-wing perspectives on various issues, including diversity, election integrity, and immigration. Earlier this month, he endorsed the Republican presidential candidates Donald Trump and J.D. Vance, both of whom are known for their support of the oil industry and opposition to clean energy initiatives.