Tesla CEO Elon Musk made controversial remarks regarding his transgender daughter, claiming that gender-affirming care led to her being “killed.” In an interview with psychologist and conservative commentator Jordan Peterson, Musk referred to gender-reassignment surgery as “child mutilation and sterilization.” He noted that his daughter, Vivian Jenna Wilson, came out as transgender at the age of 16 and received gender-affirming treatment during the pandemic.
Musk stated that he felt misled into signing documents related to his daughter’s care when he was less informed and caught up in the chaos of COVID-19, which he said involved concerns about potential suicide. He expressed strong disapproval of actions taken regarding children who he believes are below the age of consent, labeling it as “incredibly evil” and suggesting legal consequences for those who promote such measures.
He expressed further regrets, claiming that he was not properly informed about the implications of puberty blockers, which are commonly used in gender-affirming care. Musk described his feeling of loss over his child’s transition, using the term “deadnaming” to emphasize his sorrow that his son, in his view, is no longer alive.
These comments come shortly after Musk announced that X and SpaceX would relocate to Texas, influenced by California legislation regarding parental notification for transgender-identified children. Musk has faced accusations of transphobia and anti-trans messaging in the past.
In legal documents from 2022, his daughter applied for a name change and new birth certificate, stating her desire to no longer have any connection to her father. Musk has attributed their strained relationship to the influence of her progressive education in Los Angeles, a dynamic explored in Walter Isaacson’s biography of Musk, which suggests that his estrangement from Wilson has fueled his anti-woke rhetoric.
Once recognized for his centrist political stance, Musk has shifted toward more right-leaning viewpoints, especially concerning issues like diversity, election integrity, and immigration. Recently, he endorsed the Republican presidential campaign of Donald Trump and Ohio Senator J.D. Vance, both of whom support traditional energy sectors and oppose clean energy initiatives.