Tesla CEO Elon Musk recently made controversial remarks regarding his estranged transgender daughter, Vivian Jenna Wilson, during an interview with psychologist and conservative commentator Jordan Peterson. Musk stated that his daughter was “killed” after receiving gender-affirming care and expressed his intention to “destroy the woke mind virus.”
Musk referred to gender-reassignment surgery as “child mutilation and sterilization,” claiming that Wilson, who came out as transgender at 16, underwent gender-affirming treatment amid the pandemic. He expressed feeling misled into signing documents related to her care, mentioning concerns about suicidal thoughts.
He criticized the practice of providing such care to minors, stating agreement with Peterson’s viewpoint that promoting these medical options is “incredibly evil” and should be punished by imprisonment. Musk claimed he was not informed that puberty blockers could result in sterilization, although it is noted that these blockers do not inherently affect fertility.
Musk lamented losing his son during this process, emphasizing the term “deadnaming” and expressing deep regret over the situation. His comments come shortly after he announced that his companies, including X and SpaceX, would relocate to Texas in response to California’s legislation that affects how trans identities are managed in schools.
Wilson, in 2022, filed for a name change, indicating her desire to sever ties with Musk. According to Walter Isaacson’s biography, Musk has attributed the rift in their relationship to her progressive education. In recent years, Musk has shifted his political stance from center-left to more right-wing perspectives, endorsing figures such as former President Donald Trump.