Tesla CEO Elon Musk recently made controversial remarks regarding his estranged transgender daughter, Vivian Jenna Wilson, describing her experiences with gender-affirming care as resulting in her being “killed.” During an interview with psychologist and conservative commentator Jordan Peterson, Musk expressed his intention to “destroy the woke mind virus,” and labeled gender-reassignment surgery as “child mutilation and sterilization.”
Musk recounted his experiences, stating that he was essentially misled into signing documents concerning his daughter, who began her transition during the pandemic at the age of 16. According to Musk, he was under the impression that Wilson might be at risk of suicide, which influenced his decisions at the time.
He criticized the practice of administering such interventions to minors, arguing that it was done to children who are “far below the age of consent.” Musk aligned with Peterson in condemning these practices as “incredibly evil,” asserting that promoters of these actions should face imprisonment. He also stated that he was not adequately informed about puberty blockers and claimed that he felt deceived in the process, expressing a sense of loss over his relationship with his son, whom he feels has been “lost” in the transition.
Musk’s comments follow his announcement that X and SpaceX will relocate to Texas, in response to California’s AB1955, the SAFETY Act, which prohibits schools from requiring parental notification when students identify as transgender. Musk has faced accusations in the past regarding transphobia and promotion of anti-trans messaging.
His daughter sought a name change in 2022, expressing a desire to sever ties with Musk. In biographical accounts, Musk has attributed the estrangement to her educational environment. Over the years, Musk’s political stance has shifted from center-left beliefs to adopting more right-wing viewpoints, particularly in relation to issues such as diversity and energy policy. Recently, he endorsed the Republican presidential ticket of Donald Trump and J.D. Vance, aligning with their support for the oil industry.