Tesla CEO Elon Musk recently made controversial remarks about his estranged transgender daughter, claiming she was “killed” after undergoing gender-affirming care. This statement was part of a conversation during an interview with psychologist and conservative commentator Jordan Peterson.
In the interview, Musk strongly criticized gender-reassignment surgery, labeling it as “child mutilation and sterilization.” He recounted how his daughter, Vivian Jenna Wilson, who now identifies as a transgender woman, came out at the age of 16 and began receiving gender-affirming care during the pandemic. Musk expressed regret over signing documents related to his child’s care, stating that he felt deceived and was concerned about her mental health amidst the confusion of COVID-19.
Musk further claimed that such medical procedures are performed on children who are below the age of consent, agreeing with Peterson that promoting these practices is “incredibly evil” and should be punishable by imprisonment. He alleged he was never informed that puberty blockers function as sterilization drugs, although it is known that they do not directly impact fertility.
He referred to the experience as losing his son, asserting that the term “deadnaming” signifies a form of death regarding his relationship with his daughter. His comments come shortly after announcing that his companies would relocate to Texas due to California legislation known as the SAFETY Act, which seeks to protect transgender youth and ensure parental notification is not a requirement.
In 2022, Wilson applied for a name change, distancing herself from Musk, indicating she no longer wishes to be associated with him. Musk has attributed the strain in their relationship to the influence of her progressive school in Los Angeles, believing it has contributed to her views against him.
Over the past few years, Musk has shifted from center-left political views to adopt more right-wing ideologies, recently endorsing Republican candidates.