Tesla CEO Elon Musk recently made controversial remarks about his estranged transgender daughter, claiming she was “killed” after receiving gender-affirming care. This statement was made during an interview with psychologist and conservative commentator Jordan Peterson, where Musk expressed his desire to combat what he referred to as the “woke mind virus.”
During the interview, Musk characterized gender-reassignment surgery as “child mutilation and sterilization.” He shared that his daughter, Vivian Jenna Wilson, transitioned during the pandemic and changed her name at age 16. He expressed regret about signing documents related to her care, saying he was misled and concerned about her mental health at the time.
Musk criticized the practice of providing medical treatment to minors, claiming it is done to children who are not of legal consent age. He agreed with Peterson’s assertion that promoting such treatments is “incredibly evil” and suggested that advocates for these practices should face imprisonment. Additionally, Musk claimed that he was not informed that puberty blockers could lead to sterilization, despite evidence indicating that they do not inherently affect fertility.
In a poignant statement, Musk mentioned, “I lost my son, essentially,” referring to the process of “deadnaming,” which is when a transgender person is called by their birth name instead of their chosen name.
His comments come shortly after Musk announced that his companies, including X and SpaceX, would relocate to Texas in response to California’s SAFETY Act, which protects LGBTQ+ students’ rights and parental notification policies. Musk has faced accusations of transphobia and anti-trans messaging in the past.
Vivian Jenna Wilson sought a name change in 2022 and expressed a desire to sever ties with Musk, stating she does not want to be associated with him. Walter Isaacson’s biography of Musk suggests that the strained relationship with Wilson has influenced his anti-woke views.
In recent years, Musk has shifted from his previous center-left political stance to endorse conservative policies, including supporting the Republican presidential ticket of Donald Trump and J.D. Vance, both of whom advocate for the traditional oil industry and oppose clean energy initiatives.