Tesla CEO Elon Musk expressed his strong opposition to gender-affirming care, claiming it led to the estrangement from his transgender daughter, Vivian Jenna Wilson. During an interview with psychologist and conservative commentator Jordan Peterson, Musk described gender-reassignment surgery as “child mutilation and sterilization.” He mentioned that his daughter, who came out as transgender at the age of 16, received gender-affirming treatment during the pandemic.
Musk claimed he was misled into consenting to decisions regarding his daughter’s care, expressing regret and suggesting he was informed that his child might attempt suicide if not supported. He stated that the procedures are performed on minors who cannot give consent and sided with Peterson’s assertion that promoting such treatments is “incredibly evil” and should warrant imprisonment.
He further lamented the loss of his son, asserting that the term “deadnaming” reflects the grief of losing one’s child. Musk’s comments surfaced shortly after he announced that his companies, including X and SpaceX, would relocate from California to Texas, citing dissatisfaction with local legislation affecting parental rights in transgender matters.
Vivian, in 2022, legally changed her name and sought a new birth certificate, indicating she wanted no relationship with her biological father. Musk has claimed that her progressive education in Los Angeles has contributed to their estrangement. His evolving political stance has shifted him towards right-wing viewpoints, particularly on issues like diversity, election fraud, and immigration, culminating in recent endorsements for Republican presidential candidates.