Tesla CEO Elon Musk recently expressed strong opinions regarding his estranged transgender daughter, Vivian Jenna Wilson, during an interview with psychologist and conservative commentator Jordan Peterson. Musk claimed that his daughter, who came out as transgender at 16 and received gender-affirming care, was “killed” by this treatment. He criticized gender-reassignment surgery, labeling it as “child mutilation and sterilization” and asserted a desire to combat what he termed the “woke mind virus.”
Musk revealed that he felt misled about signing documents related to his child’s care during the pandemic, when concerns about potential suicide were raised. He alleged that he was unaware of the implications of puberty blockers, claiming they were not adequately explained to him and fundamentally act as sterilization drugs.
The CEO shared that he feels he has lost his son, stating, “The reason they call it ‘deadnaming’ is because your son is dead.” His comments came just days after he announced that companies he leads, including Tesla and SpaceX, would relocate to Texas, partly in response to California’s legislative measures regarding transgender student support.
Musk’s daughter sought a name change and new birth certificate in 2022, indicating her desire to sever ties with her father. Musk has attributed their estrangement to her progressive education in Los Angeles and has been accused in the past of promoting anti-trans messages. His recent views reflect a significant shift from his earlier moderate political stance, aligning more closely with right-wing ideology on various issues, including immigration and diversity.