Tesla CEO Elon Musk made controversial statements regarding his estranged transgender daughter during a recent interview with psychologist and conservative commentator Jordan Peterson. Musk claimed that his daughter was “killed” after she received gender-affirming care, prompting him to express his intent to “destroy the woke mind virus.”
Musk labeled gender-reassignment surgery as “child mutilation and sterilization.” He discussed his daughter, Vivian Jenna Wilson, who came out as transgender at the age of 16 and underwent gender-affirming procedures during the pandemic. Musk mentioned that he felt misled into signing documents concerning his child’s transition, emphasizing that he was not fully informed at the time due to the chaos surrounding COVID-19.
He stated, “This was really before I had any understanding of what was going on” and suggested that he was urged to agree to the transition because of concerns about potential suicide risks. Musk, who has 12 children, expressed strong disapproval of the procedures being conducted on minors, labeling them as “incredibly evil” and advocating imprisonment for those who promote such treatments. He also claimed he was not informed that puberty blockers function as sterilization drugs, despite the fact that puberty blockers alone do not affect fertility.
Musk expressed his grief over his daughter’s transition, stating, “I lost my son, essentially,” and criticized the term “deadnaming,” suggesting it implies that one’s former identity is dead.
His remarks came shortly after he revealed that his businesses, including X and SpaceX, would relocate to Texas in response to California’s AB1955, known as the SAFETY Act, which mandates that schools cannot inform parents if their child identifies as transgender and requires resources for LGBTQ+ youth. Musk has faced allegations of promoting anti-trans messages in the past.
In a name change application filed in 2022, Musk’s daughter stated in court documents that she no longer wishes to be associated with her biological father. According to biographer Walter Isaacson, Musk attributes the deterioration of their relationship to the progressive environment at her school, linking it to his recent “anti-woke” rhetoric.
Over the last few years, Musk, who used to hold moderate political views, has shifted towards right-wing ideologies, addressing various issues such as diversity initiatives, election integrity, and immigration. Recently, he supported the Republican presidential ticket featuring former president Donald Trump and Ohio Senator J.D. Vance, both known for their opposition to clean energy and support for the oil industry.