During an interview with psychologist and conservative commentator Jordan Peterson, Tesla CEO Elon Musk made controversial remarks about his estranged transgender daughter, Vivian Jenna Wilson. Musk claimed that his daughter was “killed” after she received gender-affirming care, which fueled his commitment to combat what he referred to as the “woke mind virus.”
Musk, who oversees multiple companies including X (formerly Twitter), labeled gender-reassignment surgery as “child mutilation and sterilization.” He recalled that Wilson came out as transgender at the age of 16 and underwent gender-affirming care during the pandemic. Musk expressed regret, stating he felt manipulated into signing documents regarding his child’s transition, attributing this confusion to the chaos of the COVID-19 pandemic.
He criticized the practice of providing treatment to children who he believes are below the age of consent, echoing Peterson’s sentiments that it is “incredibly evil” and suggesting that advocates for such practices should face imprisonment. Musk claimed he was misinformed about puberty blockers, asserting that he was not told they could lead to sterilization. However, experts clarify that puberty blockers do not directly affect fertility.
Musk lamented, “I was tricked into doing this. I lost my son, essentially,” referring to the perceived loss of his relationship with Wilson, who has distanced herself from him. The term “deadnaming,” he emphasized, signifies a finality akin to death in this context.
These comments surfaced shortly after Musk announced that X and SpaceX would relocate to Texas, citing concerns over California’s AB1955, a law that supports LGBTQ+ youth by requiring schools not to notify parents if a child identifies as transgender. Musk has faced allegations of transphobia in the past and has suggested that his estrangement from Wilson stems from her progressive education in Los Angeles, a point also noted in Walter Isaacson’s biography.
Musk’s political views have shifted significantly in recent years from center-left to more conservative positions, including critiques of diversity initiatives and support for former President Donald Trump, as well as Republican Senator J.D. Vance, both of whom back the fossil fuel industry and oppose clean energy efforts.