During a recent interview with psychologist Jordan Peterson, Tesla CEO Elon Musk expressed his outrage regarding the gender-affirming care his estranged transgender daughter received, claiming it led to her being “killed.” Musk referred to gender-reassignment surgery as “child mutilation and sterilization,” and detailed his feelings about his daughter, Vivian Jenna Wilson, who came out as transgender at 16 and underwent gender-affirming procedures during the pandemic.
Musk shared that he felt deceived into signing legal documents for his daughter, stating, “This was really before I had any understanding of what was going on.” He noted the period was marked by confusion due to COVID-19, and he was alarmed by concerns about his child’s mental health, including the suggestion that she might consider suicide.
He criticized the practice of providing such procedures to minors, calling it “incredibly evil” and advocated for severe penalties for those who promote it. Musk, who is a father to 12 children, was adamant that he was not informed about the implications of puberty blockers, which he mistakenly claimed were sterilization drugs, despite their known effects.
He lamented, “I was tricked into doing this. I lost my son, essentially.” The term “deadnaming,” he explained, reflects the loss he feels regarding his child’s previous identity.
Musk’s comments came shortly after he announced plans for X and SpaceX to relocate to Texas due to California’s SAFETY Act, which mandates schools to support transgender students without parental notification. Musk has faced criticism for promoting anti-trans rhetoric, particularly concerning his contentious relationship with his daughter, who has sought to change her name and birth certificate to distance herself from him, citing a desire to sever ties completely.
In recent years, Musk’s political views have shifted significantly towards right-wing perspectives, including criticism of diversity policies and climate initiatives. He recently endorsed former President Donald Trump and Ohio Senator J.D. Vance for the Republican presidential ticket.