Tesla CEO Elon Musk stated that his estranged transgender daughter was “killed” after receiving gender-affirming care, which led him to express a desire to “destroy the woke mind virus.”
His remarks were made during an interview with psychologist and conservative commentator Jordan Peterson, broadcast on Monday. Musk, who oversees multiple companies including X, criticized gender-reassignment surgery, dubbing it “child mutilation and sterilization.” He mentioned that his daughter, Vivian Jenna Wilson, came out as transgender at 16 and received gender-affirming care during the pandemic.
Musk remarked that he felt misled into signing documents concerning his child, referring to Wilson, who has since changed her last name. He claimed that his understanding of the situation was clouded by the confusion surrounding COVID-19, and that he was warned Wilson might attempt suicide.
He expressed agreement with Peterson’s views that procedures performed on children “who are far below the age of consent” are “incredibly evil,” urging that those who promote such actions should face imprisonment. Musk, a father of 12, previously spoke about issues of fertility and underpopulation, adding that he was unaware that puberty blockers function as “sterilization drugs,” though they alone do not impact fertility.
“I was tricked into doing this,” Musk alleged. “I lost my son, essentially. They call it ‘deadnaming’ for a reason. The reason they call it ‘deadnaming’ is because your son is dead.”
These comments emerged shortly after Musk announced that X and SpaceX would relocate to Texas, joining Tesla, in response to California’s AB1955, also known as the SAFETY Act. This legislation prohibits schools from enforcing protocols that require parental notification when a child identifies as transgender and mandates the State Department to offer support resources for LGBTQ+ children. Musk has faced accusations of transphobia and promoting anti-trans messaging in the past.
In 2022, Musk’s daughter sought a name change and a new birth certificate, stating in court documents that she wished to sever ties with her biological father completely. According to Walter Isaacson’s biography, Musk has attributed his distancing from Wilson to her progressive education in Los Angeles, suggesting that their strained relationship influences his anti-woke views.
In recent years, Musk has shifted from his previously center-left political stance to adopt more right-wing perspectives, addressing topics like diversity, election integrity, and immigration. Earlier this month, he supported the Republican presidential ticket featuring former President Donald Trump and Senator J.D. Vance, both advocates for the oil sector and critics of clean energy initiatives.