Tesla CEO Elon Musk recently stated that his estranged transgender daughter was “killed” after she underwent gender-affirming care, prompting him to express a desire to “destroy the woke mind virus.”
Musk made these remarks during an interview aired on Monday with psychologist and conservative commentator Jordan Peterson. He described gender-reassignment surgery as “child mutilation and sterilization,” noting that his daughter, Vivian Jenna Wilson, came out as transgender at 16 and received gender-affirming care during the pandemic.
“I was essentially tricked into signing documents for one of my older boys,” Musk mentioned, referring to Wilson, who has since stopped using his last name. He added that due to the confusion surrounding COVID-19 at the time, he had felt pressured to agree to decisions believing it could avert a potential suicide.
He criticized the practice of providing gender-affirming care to minors, stating, “It’s incredibly evil,” and echoed Peterson’s views by suggesting imprisonment for those promoting such treatments. Musk, who has a total of 12 children, claimed he was not informed that puberty blockers could act as sterilization drugs, despite the understanding that they do not on their own impact fertility.
“I was tricked into doing this. I lost my son, essentially. They call it ‘deadnaming’ for a reason,” Musk emphasized, explaining that the term indicates a profound loss.
His comments arose shortly after he declared that his companies X and SpaceX would relocate to Texas, reacting against California’s AB1955, or the SAFETY Act. This legislation prohibits schools from mandating parental notification if a child identifies as transgender and calls for state support for LGBTQ+ youth. Musk has faced accusations of transphobia and anti-trans messaging in the past.
In 2022, his daughter sought a name change and a new birth certificate, citing in court documents her desire to sever ties with Musk completely. Musk attributes their estrangement to her progressive school in Los Angeles, claiming this has fueled his “anti-woke sentiments.”
Over recent years, Musk, once recognized for his centrist views, has increasingly adopted right-wing perspectives on various issues, including diversity initiatives, election fraud, and immigration. Earlier this month, he endorsed the Republican presidential ticket of former President Donald Trump and Ohio Senator J.D. Vance, both known for their support of the oil industry and opposition to clean energy.